Coach Roland brings belief to youth training centers

Not only securing the Southeast Asian championship, Coach Cristiano Roland is also laying the groundwork for a generation of young players who are bold, confident, and full of potential. What he has done with Vietnam U17 demonstrates the role of foreign coaches in Vietnam's youth football training centers.

The championship ofVietnam U17at the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship is not merely a regional title.

It is the culmination of a systematic building process under the guidance of Coach Cristiano Roland, who is gradually proving that he can bring even more to Vietnamese football in the future.

Looking at the numbers, the imprint ofCoach Rolandis very clear. 24 matches, 15 wins, only 2 losses, scoring 66 goals and conceding 14 times—these are not the statistics of a "lucky" youth team, but rather the manifestation of an efficient operating system. The 16-match unbeaten streak further demonstrates stability, something that Vietnam's youth national teams often lacked previously.

More importantly, the championship journey was not easy. Vietnam U17 defeated Malaysia U17 4-0 in the group stage, overcame Australia U17 2-1 in the semifinals, and then defeated Malaysia again 3-0 in the final. That is how a true champion asserts its position.

But the greatest value thatCoach Rolandbrings does not lie in the scores. He changes the football mindset of Vietnam's young players. If previously, youth teams were often assessed as lacking confidence when playing internationally, then Vietnam U17 under this Brazilian coach displays initiative, ball control, and the courage to play fair.

This stems from the philosophy of the Brazilian tactician himself, which is building belief in the players. When players believe in themselves, they dare to hold the ball, dare to make decisions, and dare to take responsibility.

It is not by chance that Coach Roland achieves this. He played for Hanoi FC for many years, understanding Vietnamese football very well. The combination of Brazilian football thinking and local experience helps him adjust to suit Vietnamese players.

Coach Roland's success also raises a thought-provoking issue, which is the role of foreign coaches in Vietnamese football. At the youth level, where fairness in personnel selection and modern thinking in coaching are needed, a foreign coach like Roland clearly shows distinct advantages. Not being influenced by non-professional factors, he creates a healthy competitive environment where players are evaluated by their actual ability.

Coach Roland is not a "miracle worker," but someone who knows how to utilize the youth training foundation that has already been well-established in Vietnam.

The training centers remain the root, and he is the one who helps that system operate more effectively. Therefore, the success of Vietnam U17 should be seen as evidence of a correct direction, not a complete replacement for internal strength.

Training centers like PVF, The Cong Viettel, Hanoi FC, SLNA are still operating well and making significant contributions to football. Conversely, the success of Vietnam U17 also serves as encouragement for these training centers.

In the future, challenges will be much greater as Vietnam U17 aims for continental competitions, especially the goal of participating in the U17 World Cup. But with the current foundation, Coach Roland's team can certainly create new milestones.