Hai Phong FC faces a squad crisis ahead of the new season

Hai Phong FC is confronting many difficulties as it repeatedly parts with multiple core members ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Just weeks after the conclusion of the 2025/26 V.League season, Hai Phong FC has become one of the most volatile teams in the transfer market. The departure of numerous players one after another, most recently young central defender Nguyen Nhat Minh, has left the port city club facing significant challenges in preparing for the new season.

Nguyen Nhat Minh is the latest name to leave Lach Tray Stadium after three seasons with the club. Although not a product of Hai Phong’s youth academy, the central defender born in 2003 left his mark through his passionate fighting spirit, resilience, and continuous improvement. On social media platforms, Hai Phong FC expressed gratitude to the young player, acknowledging his contributions while wearing the team’s colors and wishing him success in his future endeavors. According to multiple sources, Nhat Minh is likely to join reigning National Cup champions CATP.HCM.

Nhat Minh’s exit extends the list of departures from Hai Phong during the summer transfer window. Previously, the Lach Tray Stadium side had said goodbye to 12 players, including many experienced faces such as Trieu Viet Hung, Bui Tiên Dung, Trung Hieu, and Luiz Antonio. These successive changes have inevitably worried fans, as the core squad that had stuck together for many seasons has been almost completely dismantled.

Alongside the squad changes, Hai Phong has also entered a new chapter on the coaching bench after head coach Chu Dinh Nghiem concluded his five-year journey with the team. His successor, coach Dang Van Thanh, will take on the responsibility of building a new collective amidst the club’s large-scale restructuring.

Nevertheless, Hai Phong’s coaching staff affirms that preparations for the 2026/27 season are proceeding as planned. According to coach Dang Van Thanh, the team currently has about 22 players on the roster, with new additions such as Cong Phuong, Ngoc Tu, Tuan Phong, and striker Makaric. The club has also retained foreign players Tagueu and Bicou, while continuing to search for an additional foreign central defender to complete the squad.

With a significantly changed squad, Hai Phong will assemble on July 2 to prepare for the new season. The coaching staff’s focus is on helping the new recruits adapt to the playing philosophy and quickly build team cohesion. Although they have not set overly high expectations, the port city club still hopes to overcome the transitional period soon, stabilize the squad, and restore the image of one of the most distinctive teams in V.League.