The coach of Cong Phuong declines V-League offer, revealing a reason that leaves many in regret.

Australian head coach John Hutchinson personally visited Vietnam to evaluate leading a V-League club, yet unexpectedly changed his mind at the last moment.

Despite having been extremely close to the chance of working in V-League, head coach John Hutchinson ultimately chose to turn down an offer from a Vietnamese side. Nonetheless, his comments following the trip demonstrate the increasing attraction of Vietnamese football among international professionals.

Reports indicate that Hutchinson was offered a job to manage a V-League team ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. In order to gain a thorough understanding before deciding, the Australian tactician visited Vietnam in May and personally attended several V-League and National Cup fixtures.

The reconnaissance trip allowed the former mentor of Nguyen Cong Phuong at Yokohama to assess the organizational scale, technical standards, and football culture in Vietnam. Remarkably, it is believed that John Hutchinson formed a highly favorable view during his visit.

In addition to commending the growth of V-League, the 1979-born manager also had kind words for several Vietnamese players he watched in person. This indicates that Vietnamese football is increasingly gaining recognition among foreign trainers, particularly those from Australia.

Yet just when it looked like all was set, Hutchinson made a surprise reversal. The cause was not V-League but an offer from Central Coast Mariners, a historic team back home in Australia.

That club holds a unique place in Hutchinson's career. He made 271 appearances for the Mariners, helped them win the domestic title in 2013, and became a club legend. It was this sentimental attachment that led him to choose going back to Australia rather than embarking on a fresh chapter in Vietnam.

Even though the move fell through, the fact that a seasoned manager like Hutchinson bothered to visit Vietnam for reconnaissance before mulling over the proposal is a testament to V-League's rising attractiveness.

It's not just coaches; many Australian players are also rating the Vietnamese football scene highly. Recently, Stephan Mauk, a midfielder who just won the V-League with CAHN and signed a long-term deal with the public security club, made some noteworthy remarks on the podcast Football Friends - Australia.

Per Mauk, salaries in the Australian top flight are no longer that appealing. A consistent starter struggles to make around 150,000 AUD annually, while the biggest names get only 250,000 to 300,000 AUD. On the flip side, in Southeast Asia—particularly Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia—leading players can earn upwards of 600,000 AUD per year, and steady foreign imports also command wages near 300,000 AUD.

The reconnaissance by John Hutchinson and the comments from Stephan Mauk illustrate that Vietnamese football is growing into a magnet for Australian players and coaches. Even though Hutchinson hasn't yet taken the plunge into V-League for now, his favorable assessments serve as an encouraging sign for the growth and allure of Vietnamese football in the regional landscape.