41-year-old assistant coach wants to come back as striker for V. League club

By Nghia Hung July 26, 2022 | 05:04 am PT

Huynh Kesley as an assistant coach for the U15 team of Becamex Binh Duong in 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Becamex Binh Duong had considered using their assistant coach Huynh Kesley, a retired striker, for their upcoming V. League games, but head coach Dang Tran Chinh objected to the plan.

"Huynh Kesley wanted to come back into the field, but Binh Duong are building a young team," Chinh said Monday.

Kesley, now 41, of Brazilian descent, announced his retirement from football in 2019. He became an assistant coach for Binh Duong in 2021.

He was considered one of the greatest foreign players in V. League. He joined Binh Duong in 2005 and has won three V. League titles with the club. During his 14 years in V. League, Kesley had 269 appearances and scored 143 goals.

In 2009, he gained Vietnamese citizenship and was called up to the Vietnam national football team.

Binh Duong had considered bringing him back to the pitch as their two foreign strikers, Brazilian Teofilo Eydison and Gambian Ceesey Dawda, haven't scored any goal this season, leading to poor results.

The southern club are currently placed ninth with nine points after nine games.