VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on June 6, signed a two-year contract with German Falko Goetz as head coach of the Vietnamese national football team.

The German coach and VFF Chair Nguyen Trong Hy at the signing ceremony on June 6.

The German man, 49, arrived in Hanoi on June 4 to finalize details of their negotiations that have lasted for three months, right after the Portuguese coach Henrique Calisto resigned from the post in early March. He met with VFF officials on May 5 to finalize the contract.

Goetz told a local newspaper that he has searched for lots of information about Vietnamese football since approaching the post. However, he refused to mention details of his deal with the VFF, just promising that he will do it after officially sealing the deal.

Concerning the target to lead the side to win the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia in November, Goetz admitted he has never flinched from challenges in his football career of 30 years.

He promised he will do something useful for the football developments in Vietnam and expectations from local fans.

Goetz led some elite teams in Europe, including Hertha Berlin in 2004-07. In his competition career, he played as a forward for FCs Dynamo, Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray and Hertha Berlin.

Goetz will be paid $22,000 a month. His mission is to help Vietnam U23 team to take the gold medal at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games. If VFF fires the coach before the contract expires, VFF will have to pay him 3 months of wages. Goetz’s pay is similar to the former coach Calisto.

PV