Vietnam head coach Calisto resigns

After more than 10 years being with Vietnam national team, achieved many success at club and national team level also, Calisto suddenly resign though his contract signed with VFF is still effective in 2 more years.

According to the mutual respecting and cooperative basis, leader ship of VFF had a few working session with Calisto and accepted the coach’s farewell. In the afternoon of 2 March, Calisto resignation was officially announced by representative of leaders VFF including vice chairman Nguyen Lan Trung, General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan and coach Calisto in one press conference held in head quarter of VFF.

Calisto resignation was officially announced in one press conference held in head quarter of VFF.

Prior to the informal information about Calisto’s farewell, coach Calisto said that “ First of all, I have to deny some news on local media reporting that I can not suffer pressure of media and public onion. I has been a coach for 31 years and I had many experiences. Therefore, it is absurd when I stepped down to evade pressure from local media and public criticism. All those who know and understand me also know that pressure motivate to strive and perform work better. I also rebutted conjectures that the reason for my farewell is money. To be honest, if it is for the money, I had left Vietnam for long time ago and don’t need to wait until today. 11 years is a long period enough to need a change. I no longer feel the enthusiastic as before and I think that it’s appropriate time to say goodbye”

Coach Calisto also spent a lot of time to share his feeling with local media. He said that the local media and some Vietnamese coaches were unfair when they assessed the failure ofVietnam at the  AFF Cup 2010 while the international media highly appreciate the performance of Vietnam national team.

Coach Calisto also deny some news reporting that main reason for his quitting is that he has not been trusted by VFF leaders. He said that “Through my work, It normal when we cannot avoid the twist and dissent, it is important that we had straight talk, overcame together according to sense of mutual respect. I and VFF always have a common goal, which is help a more progressive Vietnam national team”.

Regarding to my opinion, General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan said that “VFF respect the dicision of coach Calisto, acknowledge the contribution, devotion and enthusiasm in over 10 years. But life still continues and VFF also actively bring out solutions to the continuing implementation of Vietnam Football in the future. In the short term, we will work with National Coach Committee and will make a decision of selecting head coach for the national team and U23 team. This work is not easy because it’s very hard to select one coach having through knowledge and devotion with Vietnam football like Calisto. However, from now until June, VFF will have to specify a new formation for national team to ensure successful implementation key task in 2011”

In his words at the last meeting with press, Calisto expressed sincerely thanks to Vietnamplayers and all fans. He said “I have been married for 33 years and 1/3 of time I spent inVietnam. So I feel sad and very hard to make this dicision. I need to say thank you to my students, they were always working over the dedication of their ability. Thank you for the fans and enthusiasm in cheering the team journey. I wish Vietnam football will gain more successes in the future”.