Hanoi FC confirmed Kewell’s arrival on Oct. 4, making him the club's 10th coach, including both permanent and interim appointments, since 2021. The Vietnam capital club hope Kewell will bring new energy and elevate the team domestically and across Asia.
Indonesian sports outlet Bola described the decision as a "bold move," while The Sun said the former Liverpool star landed "a shock job".
"Harry Kewell returns to the football map in an unexpected location," Glasgow World wrote, adding that Hanoi FC were satisfied with appointing a big name to draw more attention to the club.
Media outlets also highlighted Kewell’s underwhelming coaching record compared to his stellar playing career. AFP noted that Kewell "has never had the same success as a manager that he enjoyed as a player."
"Kewell was a star as a player but has struggled to convert that success to his managerial career," Australian newspaper PerthNow gave a similar assessment.
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s greatest footballers, Kewell earned 56 caps and scored 17 goals for the national team, appearing in two World Cup editions (2006 and 2010). He netted 79 goals in 381 matches for Leeds United and Liverpool, winning the Champions League (2005) and the FA Cup (2006) with the latter. After leaving England, Kewell joined Turkish giant Galatasaray, where he made 91 appearances from 2008 to 2011.
After retiring in 2014, Kewell held four head coach positions in England’s lower leagues, all with limited success. His managerial journey began with Watford U23 (2015–2017), followed by Crawley Town, Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Barnet, with each tenure ending early.
In 2022, Kewell joined Celtic as assistant to Ange Postecoglou, helping the Scottish club win the domestic treble. When Postecoglou departed for Tottenham Hotspur, Kewell became the head coach of Japanese powerhouse Yokohama F. Marinos in December 2023, but his seven-month stint ended with 13 wins, 8 draws and 12 defeats, as the club dropped from runners-up to ninth in the J1 League.
The Japanese version of Goal reported that Kewell's appointment at Hanoi FC sparked debate online. Some questioned his capability, noting his mixed results in past coaching roles. Others viewed it as a fresh opportunity for the former Australian international to rebuild his career and share his experience in a developing football environment.
