First Vietnamese Coach Signs Contract with American Football Federation

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) appoints Nguyen Hoang Lan as assistant coach of the national team, marking the first time a Vietnamese coach works in America.

The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has officially announced the decision to appoint Nguyen Hoang Lan to the position of assistant coach for the Guyana national team. This is a special milestone as he becomes the first Vietnamese coach to work at a football federation in the Americas region.

His journey into professional football has a rather distinct character. Before entering coaching work, he was a sports journalist and football commentator. Subsequently, he joined The Viettel Sports Club as a language assistant, gradually accumulating experience and transitioning into professional coaching duties.

During over a decade of association with the military-affiliated club, Coach Hoang Lan contributed to many important milestones, notably the V.League championship in the 2020 season. Additionally, he also helped Viettel's youth teams win numerous titles at the U17 and U21 levels, demonstrating his capability in developing young players.

Not limited to domestic competitions, this coach also gained experience by participating in continental-level tournaments such as the AFC Champions League 2021 and AFC Cup 2022. These experiences helped him develop clear tactical thinking, particularly in defensive organization and transitioning between phases.

According to GFF's assessment, Coach Hoang Lan possesses a solid foundation in match analysis, suitable for the role of a tactical specialist assistant. Furthermore, his proficient English language skills and experience working in a multicultural environment are expected to enable him to quickly adapt and support head coach Thomas Dooley in enhancing the team's quality.

Guyana is a country in the South America region but competes under CONCACAF's management – currently ranked 151st in the world. Besides his role with the national team, Coach Nguyen Hoang Lan is also assigned to lead the Guyana U20 team in regional U20 qualifiers, thereby contributing to the long-term strategy to elevate the country's football.