OFFICIAL: Former Korean Coach of Vietnam National Team Lands Major Appointment

VPF homepage confirms Coach Bae Ji-won takes head coach role at Ninh Bình Club from round 19 of V-League.

Just before round 19 of V.League 2025/26 commenced, Ninh Bình Club made a crucial change on the coaching bench by appointing Mr. Bae Ji-won as head coach. Meanwhile, Mr. Vũ Tiến Thành was reassigned to the technical director role. The official VPF website also displayed Mr. Bae Ji-won with the title of head coach of Ninh Bình Club.

This decision primarily relates to AFC's coaching license requirements. Mr. Vũ Tiến Thành currently does not hold a Pro license – a mandatory standard for head coaches in top-level professional leagues. However, this manager will continue overseeing technical matters, playing a key role in maintaining tactical direction and stability for Ninh Bình team.

Conversely, choosing Bae Ji-won helps the club fully meet AFC's qualification criteria. This is a strategic move, not only to fulfill legal requirements but also to demonstrate the club's long-term goal of aiming for continental competitions.

Immediately after taking charge, the Korean coach expressed strong determination. He shared his desire to continue involvement with Vietnamese football and set the goal of competing for the V.League championship with Ninh Bình. These statements show the confidence of a coach with years of experience working in Vietnamese football environment.

According to plan, Bae Ji-won will make his debut when Ninh Bình hosts PVF-CAND in round 19 on April 18. For the remainder of the season, he will directly oversee tactics and training, tasked with improving the team's ranking and maintaining competitiveness.

Before joining Ninh Bình, Bae Ji-won was assistant to Coach Park Hang-seo with Vietnam national teams. Additionally, he has experience leading Thể Công Viettel during 2022–2024 and previously worked at Korean clubs like Jeonbuk, Busan, Ulsan Hyundai, and Gangwon FC, as well as youth training at Bournemouth, thus accumulating diverse professional expertise.

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