At the beginning of the Lunar New Year 2024, Mai Duc Chung was honored with the title Labor Hero by the President of Vietnam.

The veteran coach stated that this prestigious recognition has motivated him to continue contributing to Vietnam’s women's football during what promises to be an intense 2025 season.

"Many people ask me why I haven’t retired yet. Wouldn’t it be wiser to step away at the peak of my career, rather than risk ending on a disappointing note? But I am not afraid of failure. As long as the team needs me, I will always be there," Chung shared.

A surprise return to the sidelines

Mai Duc Chung’s decision to return as head coach in mid-2024 came as a surprise to many. At the end of 2023, after guiding Vietnam to their historic FIFA Women’s World Cup debut in New Zealand, he had announced his departure from the national team, intending to retire completely.

His initial plan was to spend more time with his family and focus on his health after decades of dedicated service to Vietnamese football - particularly the women's team.

"I have a deep bond with the players, and I love this team. That’s why I chose to return. It’s purely out of affection for women's football, not for money or status. Many were shocked when I decided to come back," Chung explained.

Leading Vietnam through a challenging 2025

At 76, Chung is among the oldest national team head coaches in the world. However, he remains confident in his ability to guide Vietnam’s women's team through a demanding year ahead, hoping to bring home more glory.

In 2025, the team will compete in three major tournaments: the Southeast Asian Championship, the Asian qualifiers, and the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has set the team’s primary goal as defending their SEA Games gold medal.

Under Mai Duc Chung’s leadership, Vietnam's women’s team has already claimed six SEA Games gold medals, including four consecutive titles. He also guided them to fourth place at the 2014 Asian Games and, most notably, secured Vietnam’s first-ever spot at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.

Reflecting on the journey to the World Cup, Chung recalled the team’s struggles during their training camp in Spain, where almost the entire squad was affected by COVID-19.

"At one point, we only had four healthy players able to train," he said. "I even suggested to the VFF leadership that we withdraw from the tournament because our players weren’t in condition to compete. But thanks to the perseverance of VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan, the players gradually recovered, and we managed to secure our place at the 2023 World Cup through sheer determination."

Yen Nhi