Lacking vision: Coach Falko Goetz (centre) was fired yesterday just six months after being appointed. Goetz had failed to lead Viet Nam's U-23 football team to SEA Games glory. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Nhut

HA NOI — Head coach of Viet Nam's U23 football team Falko Goetz was fired yesterday just six months after being appointed for failing to lead the team to SEA Games glory.

The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) held a meeting with the National Coaching Council and both sides agreed that the German coach had not fulfilled his duties and was no longer suitable for the post.

"Goetz had no clear tactics, was unable to adjust to new conditions and failed to leave his mark on the team during his time in Viet Nam," said council chairman Nguyen Sy Hien. "For those reasons, we agreed with the VFF's proposal to dismiss Goetz."

It is expected that Goetz will receive official confirmation of the decision when he returns to Viet Nam next week. He is currently on vacation in his home town for Christmas and New Year.

Goetz was appointed head coach of the national and under-23 teams in June after an extensive selection process conducted by the VFF.

The 49-year-old had an impressive CV and beat 40 other candidates to the position which brought him US$22,000 per month, excluding other expenses such as accommodation and travel fees.

Under Goetz, Viet Nam jumped 55 places in the FIFA world rankings to reach 99th earlier this month. It is seven years since the country was last in the top 100, and Viet Nam have also risen to 34th in Asia and top of the Southeast Asia rankings, overthrowing Thailand.

In his first official match in charge, Viet Nam beat Macau 13-1 on aggregate in a first round World Cup qualifier. In the second round, Viet Nam won one and lost one against Asian powerhouses Qatar, but were eliminated on aggregate.

Goetz also scored points with Vietnamese officials and fans after losing only 0-1 to World Cup quarter-finalists Japan in a friendly in Kobe in October.

But Viet Nam lost the VFF Cup following a regrettable 1-1 draw with Malaysia, and the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia turned into a nightmare for the team, who was expected to win gold but failed to make the top three.

The VFF subsequently released a statement saying that Goetz would remain in his position until the end of 2012, despite pressure from the public who were clamouring for change.

However, at a meeting on December 22, it was decided that Goetz was responsible for the SEA Games failure.

Goetz was capped by Berliner FC Dynamo, Hertha BSC, Galatasaray, Bayer Leverkusen and the national team during his playing career. After retirement, he worked as a coach at Hertha BSC, 1860 Munich and Holstein Kiel before moving to Viet Nam. He is the eighth foreign coach to work in the country.

At a press briefing yesterday, the council also approved the VFF's decision to appoint a local coach to replace the German. — VNS