Đồng Nai chairman Phạm Hương Sơn has turned down coach Nguyễn Việt Thắng's wish to resign, Thanh Niên reported on 26 October, even though the newly promoted club sit bottom of the V.League 2026/27 with one point from five games and are the only side in the league yet to score.
Thắng, the 2008 AFF Cup winner, took full responsibility after the 0-4 home defeat by Nam Định on 24 October. He said his players lacked the confidence to play well and looked tense, that several older players were trying hard but could not make up the physical gap, and that the squad needed younger energy. He added that he felt he had not done well enough, that he should stop, and that someone else might do a better job.
Sơn, who chairs both the Trường Tươi Group and the club, replied with a short message to his coach: they win together, lose together and get through it together, and the season has only just begun. Thanh Niên described the message as a move to protect the head coach's position.
From second-tier champions to the foot of the table
Đồng Nai won last season's First Division, losing only 2 of 22 matches, according to Thanh Niên. In the top flight they have one draw, four defeats and ten goals conceded so far. Their last three results, from KBVN+ data:
| Round | Date | Match | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 20 Sep | Thành phố Đồng Nai v Công an Hà Nội | 0-3 |
| 4 | 18 Oct | Bắc Ninh v Thành phố Đồng Nai | 0-0 |
| 5 | 24 Oct | Thành phố Đồng Nai v Nam Định | 0-4 |
The other two defeats came against Thể Công Viettel at home and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh away. Thắng said the opening schedule had been very demanding: at home they met last season's runners-up Thể Công Viettel, champions Công an Hà Nội and Nam Định, winners of two titles in three years, while their away trips were against direct rivals such as Hà Tĩnh and Bắc Ninh. He also said he had never doubted his players' effort.
Against Nam Định, captain Công Phượng, Ivan, Ngọc Lâm and Văn Khoa were all unavailable through knocks picked up before the game, and Văn Sơn and Tấn Sinh were suspended. All four goals came after half-time.
The bottom of the table after round 5 (KBVN+ data):
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | Đà Nẵng | 5 | -4 | 6 |
| 10 | Hà Nội | 5 | -4 | 6 |
| 11 | Bắc Ninh | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| 12 | Thể Công - Viettel | 5 | -2 | 4 |
| 13 | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | 5 | -6 | 3 |
| 14 | Thành phố Đồng Nai | 5 | -10 | 1 |
Đồng Nai are two points behind HAGL, four behind Bắc Ninh and five behind Đà Nẵng, the clubs Thanh Niên lists as their rivals in the fight to stay up.
Why the newcomers are struggling
In a second Thanh Niên article, commentator Huỳnh Sang said a run of strong opponents early in the season had made it hard for a promoted side to collect points or stay composed, and that one bad result had set off a negative domino effect.
The paper also pointed to football reasons: a veteran core that was effective in the second tier but cannot cope physically with V.League pressing, a squad pieced together from many sources and lacking cohesion, foreign players who have yet to make a mark, and too little time for the coaching staff to build a clear style. Huỳnh Sang added that Đồng Nai's investment cannot compare with that of the league's big clubs.
What's next
Đồng Nai visit Hải Phòng at Lạch Tray at 18:00 on 31 October in round 6. Hải Phòng are eighth on six points, having lost 1-2 to Thanh Hóa, won 5-1 at Đà Nẵng and lost 1-2 at Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in their last three games. Thanh Niên says Đồng Nai then host Đà Nẵng in a match that matters greatly for survival.
Văn Sơn and Tấn Sinh are available again from round 6, and some injured players could return soon. Check the V.League fixtures and the V.League table; our report on Đồng Nai's 0-4 loss to Nam Định covers the match itself.