Hanoi FC coach, former Liverpool star Kewell hails Vietnam U23s’ Asian Cup bronze

Speaking to local media on Tuesday, Kewell said Vietnam’s U23 side had performed strongly against Asia’s top teams, adding that he was impressed not only by the youth team but by the technical quality of Vietnamese players more broadly at both U23 and senior levels.

Kewell, a former Australia international who won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, said he had followed Vietnam’s matches closely over the past month at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup while the V.League 1 was on break, even as he continued training Hanoi FC.

Vietnam’s U23 team finished third while Australia, representing his home country, were eliminated by South Korea in the quarterfinals of the tournament, a continental junior competition held every two years.

Hanoi FC contributed two players to the U23 squad after midfielder Nguyen Van Truong was ruled out through injury, with center back Le Van Ha making one appearance and goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai remaining unused throughout the tournament.

Kewell said he was proud that the club had players involved and optimistic about the future of Vietnamese football despite Hanoi’s limited on-field contribution.

The Aussie also addressed the impact of the league pause on domestic clubs, saying the interruption posed challenges for all teams rather than Hanoi FC alone.

He said his focus had been on helping players maintain form and competitiveness during the break.

Hanoi FC, currently seventh in the standings, are scheduled to face ninth-placed Song Lam Nghe An on Saturday in Round 12 of the 2025–26 V.League 1 season.