Phan Thanh Hùng, former Vietnam national football coach, passes away

Former Vietnam national football team head coach Phan Thanh Hùng passed away on August 11, 2026, at the age of 66, following a long battle with late-stage laryngeal cancer.

Born in Danang, Phan Thanh Hùng had a distinguished career as both a player and a manager. As a player, he represented the national team and played for Danang FC. Following his retirement, he became one of Vietnam's most successful domestic coaches, leading clubs such as Hanoi T&T, Than Quang Ninh, and Binh Duong to various V.League, National Cup, and Super Cup titles.

He also held significant roles within the national team setup, serving as an assistant coach during the 2008 AFF Cup victory under Henrique Calisto and later as the head coach of the national team and the U23 team in 2012. Most recently, he served as a member of the National Coaching Council. Just days before his passing, on August 9, he was visited by VFF Vice President Nguyen Xuan Vu to receive a commemorative medal for his contributions to Vietnamese football.