Le Cong Vinh completes coaching internship in Japan, moves closer to AFC A License

Former Vietnam national team striker Le Cong Vinh has completed the second phase of his AFC A License coaching internship at Hokuriku University in Japan. This is an important step in his transition from player to professional coach. The internship ran from September 6 to 15, 2026, arranged by VFF Technical Director Koshida Takeshi. During this time, Vinh directly coached the university team on three core tactical themes: attacking, defending, and counter-attacking. These are standard contents of the AFC A License curriculum, adapted to the team's context. Hokuriku University is a competitive name in Japanese university football, having reached the national student championship finals. This provides a high-level environment for Vinh to test his coaching abilities under moderate pressure. Behind this internship is strong support from Koshida Takeshi, demonstrating VFF's strategic direction to train Vietnamese coaches to international standards, especially from Japan. JFA President Miyamoto also sent congratulations and encouragement, emphasizing the growing football relationship between the two countries. The AFC A License course consists of three phases: Phase 1 completed in June 2026, Phase 2 just finished with the practical internship, and Phase 3 scheduled for December 2026, after which Vinh will submit a coaching report to JFA instructors. If successful, the A License will be awarded in April 2027. After obtaining the A License, Vinh can apply for the AFC Pro License – the highest coaching certification in Asia. This opens prospects for him to lead professional clubs or even the national team in the future. Le Cong Vinh is one of Vietnam's greatest strikers, with 51 goals for the national team, winning the AFF Cup 2026 and numerous club titles. After retiring, he pursued coaching and chose Japan for his education instead of Vietnam. He stated, 'I believe studying in Japan will give me a solid foundation for my coaching career. Not only tactics, but I also want to expand relationships and understand the football culture here.' Experts praise this move as a positive trend for Vietnamese football. Vinh is currently still in the learning phase and has not taken any coaching job. With his A License foundation and VFF support, he could become a quality coach in the near future. This article is compiled from VFF, JFA, and Vietnamese sports media sources.