The Austrian coach said Hai Phong club treated him badly. He tried his best but he was dismissed after just three matches.

Hai Phong club’s managers said that Riedl didn’t fulfill his duties. He didn’t build a clear playing style and didn’t help the team have the best preparation. He even frustrated the good things built up by his predecessor, coach Vuong Tien Dung, they said.

But the coach can’t understand why he was fired. “It is totally unfair. Since my first day working in Hai Phong, I have never had just a day for relaxing. I worked and tried my best but I lost my job after three matches!

“I’m very disappointed about this decision… It was strange. After the match against Nam Dinh, the club’s chairman told me that we can begin again because we have a lot of time and opportunities. But two hours later, they announced they would terminate the contract with me and the whole coaching board. It is fine. I agreed and I don’t have any regrets,” Riedl said.

Some other coaches have been fired like Riedl and according to this foreign coach, this is not good. “Vietnamese clubs often dismiss their coaches after one or two losing matches. It is not good. Will everything become good if they change the coach?”

Riedl liquidated his contract with Hai Phong. He will receive full salary ($12,000/month) till October 2009. He said he will return to Austria to relax for a week before seeking a new job.

Meanwhile, just two days after it fired Riedl, Hai Phong said Le Thuy Hai had agreed to say goodbye to The Cong to become its chief coach.

Hai Phong’s team leader Van Thanh will be assistant to coach Le Thuy Hai. Other members of the coaching board will be decided after the match against Hoang Anh Gia Lai on March 8.

It is said that Hai Phong will pay Le Thuy Hai around $5,000 per month. However, Hai hasn’t confirmed the news yet.

Le Thuy Hai is the most outstanding local coach at V-League. He led Binh Duong club to the V-League championship in 2007 and 2008.

VietNamNet/VNE