HA NOI (VNS)— The Viet Nam Professional Football Co (VPF) has invited Kazuyoshi Tanabe to be their deputy director in the 2013 season.

The Japanese will take responsibility for the organising activities of the national football leagues. He is expected to heighten the quality and competitiveness of tournaments and matches, attracting spectators back to stadiums.

He will also work as a consultant for the VPF in luring more sponsors, organising foreign affairs and building financial plans.

Tanabe was introduced to Viet Nam by Daisuke Nakanishi, managing director and organising board head of the J-League.

Tanabe has been working as a manager in football for 13 years. He previously worked as Japan's Yokohama FC's operating manager and general director at Ryukyu FC.

In 2004-07, Tanabe worked as the marketing director at the Ligue 2's Grenoble 38 Foot, a second-division club in France, where he brought in 3-6 million euros (U$S3.98-7.94 million) per year due to his smart player transfer policies.

In 2008 Grenoble 38 Foot were promoted to the Ligue 1.

The VPF and Tanabe are expected to sign a contract after the Lunar New Year in February.

The national leagues will kick off their season in March. — VNS