Coach Troussier gets three months' salary as severance package

VFF organized an urgent meeting with Troussier right after Vietnam's 0-3 defeat to Indonesia in My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi Tuesday night. They reached an agreement to part ways after more than one and a half hours, at 11:30 p.m.

Coach Philippe Troussier in the press conference after Vietnam's 0-3 defeat to Indonesia in My Dinh Stadium, Hanoi, March 26, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Troussier's salary under the contract is a bit higher than his predecessor Park Hang-seo's, which was US$50,000 a month after tax, according to VnExpress's sources. The extra payment was partly because he was in charge of both the national and U23 teams.

Troussier took charge in March 2023, and his contract requires him to bring Vietnam to the 2026 World Cup's third qualification round.

Vietnam theoretically still have a chance in the remaining two matches against the Philippines and Iraq in June.

Thus, based on the contract, which was signed until July 2026, VFF could not fire Troussier yet, a high-ranking member of the federation told VnExpress.

"But we persuaded Troussier to look at the reality, when trust in the squad has hit rock bottom, fans have reacted strongly [against Troussier's coaching style] and the squad need immediate restructuring."

The official said the two sides agreed to end the contract on March 26, 2024, without compensation.

VFF offered to "support" around three months of his salary and Troussier accepted, the VFF respresentative said.

Another source of VnExpress said: "Troussier seems to have prepared for this."

During his more than one year with Vietnam, Troussier's sole accomplishment was securing a spot in the 2024 AFC U23 Championship finals. He previously failed to lead Vietnam to 32nd SEA Games success, earning only a bronze medal. The team were also unable to advance past the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup, losing all three matches.

In May 2023, Troussier's U23 team also lost 2-3 to Indonesia in the semi-finals of SEA Games 32.

VFF had said they chose Troussier due to his background with a lot of accomplishments and his previous stunt with Vietnam.

Troussier, 68, played as a defender for French clubs from 1976 to 1983. He switched to coaching immediately after retiring. Dubbed the "White Witch Doctor" for his successful stint in Africa, Troussier has managed Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa, and Burkina Faso.

His international career peaked during his stint in Japan (1998 - 2002) when he won the 2000 AFC Asian Cup.

Two years later, he led Japan to the final 16 at the 2002 World Cup, the country's best-ever run in the competition at the time. In 2020, the Asian Football Confederation named him one of the greatest coaches in Asian Cup history.

Troussier acted as a strategic adviser and then technical director of the Promotion Fund of Vietnamese Football Talent (PVF) Academy in 2018. He was appointed head coach of Vietnam U19 team a year later, who he helped qualify for the 2020 U19 AFC Championship, which was canceled due to Covid-19. He left after his contract with VFF expired in June 2021.