Hà Nội F.C. (1956)

Hanoi Football Club (), officially named CLB Hà Nội, is a professional football club based in Hanoi, Vietnam. They play their home matches at Hang Day Stadium and compete in V.League 1, the top division in the Vietnamese football league system. The club was founded in 2006 as T&T Hanoi Football Club, later renamed Hanoi T&T Football Club in 2010, before adopting its current name in 2016.

Domestically, Hanoi FC have won a record 6 V.League 1 titles, 3 Vietnamese Cups, and a record 5 Vietnamese Super Cups. In international football, the club has participated in seven Asian competitions to date, most notably reaching the AFC Cup inter-zone play-off final in 2019.

History

Foundation and rise

Hanoi FC was formed in 2006 as T&T Hanoi Football Club () by T&T Group. The team initially played in the lowest division of Vietnamese football, V.League 4. In its first three years, under the leadership of coach Trieu Quang Ha (a former player for the Vietnamese national team and The Cong), the team achieved consecutive promotions. They finished in 1st place in V.League 4 in 2006, 2nd place in V.League 3 in 2007, and 2nd place in V.League 2 in 2008, earning the right to compete in V-League 2009.

First V.League title and establishment of a new powerhouse

Once the club established its foothold, Hanoi T&T began to rapidly emerge as a strong contender and experienced success in its debut season in the top league. Although the club missed out on winning the 2009 season, they found joy the following year by clinching their first-ever title in the 2010 season.

Thanks to good management and their domestic trophy win in 2010, Hanoi T&T was able to participate in their first international tournament, the 2011 AFC Cup. However, the club performed poorly in their debut AFC Cup campaign, finishing third in Group G.

In the 2012 season, Hanoi T&T finished in second place. There were many rumors suggesting that Hanoi T&T played defensively throughout the final match against Xuan Thanh Saigon to help SHB Da Nang win the title—another club owned by the same person who owned Hanoi T&T—despite still having a chance to win the league. After this match, the owner of Xuan Thanh Saigon announced the dissolution of the team.

In the 2013 season, Hanoi T&T was crowned champion with one round to spare after a 2–1 victory over Dong Tam Long An. This season also saw strikers Gonzalo and Samson excel, scoring a combined total of 28 goals and sharing the title of top scorer.

The 2014 and 2015 seasons marked the rise of Becamex Bình Dương, and it was also a transitional period for Hanoi T&T as a new generation of players, including Duy Manh, Van Thanh, and Minh Long, were promoted to the first team. With the departure of key players like goalkeeper Le Van Nghia and midfielder Sy Cuong, the team faced challenges. In the 2014 AFC Cup, Hanoi T&T finished first in Group F, defeated Nay Pyi Taw 5–0 in the Round of 16, but were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Erbil of Iraq, losing 3–0 on aggregate.

The 2016 season, which marked the 10th anniversary of the capital club, saw significant changes for Hanoi T&T, including two coaching changes. The first occurred just a week before the season when coach Phan Thanh Hung resigned. He was replaced by Pham Minh Duc, the coach of the Hanoi U21 T&T team at the time. However, Pham Minh Duc's tenure began poorly, with the team earning only 1 point from the first 4 matches and sitting at the bottom of the table. On March 17, 2016, the team decided to replace Pham Minh Duc with assistant Chu Dinh Nghiem. This change led to a remarkable improvement in gameplay and results, allowing the team to rise steadily up the table with only 2 rounds remaining.

In the penultimate round, needing a win to keep their championship hopes alive, Hanoi T&T secured all 3 points with a 1–0 victory over Than Quang Ninh, thanks to a goal from Nguyen Van Quyet. This result gave them control over their own destiny in the final match. A 2–0 victory over FLC Thanh Hoa, featuring a double from Gonzalo, allowed Hanoi T&T to win the V-League championship for the third time, finishing just above Hai Phong on goal difference. However, in the 2016 Vietnamese Cup, the team finished as runners-up after a narrow 1–2 loss to Than Quang Ninh at Hang Day Stadium.

Name change

In 2016, shortly after winning the V-League title, T&T Group decided to dedicate the club to the people of Hanoi, withdrawing its stake and officially renaming the club Hanoi Football Club. The City Council also decided to grant Hàng Đẫy Stadium to the club as a tribute, allowing the team to use and improve the facilities.

The 2017 season ended disappointingly for the purple team. They finished in 3rd place despite holding a significant advantage in the final round. After winning 1–0 against QNK Quang Nam (the eventual champions) in the penultimate round, they drew 4–4 with Than Quang Ninh in the final round. In the 2017 Vietnamese Cup, Hanoi also had a disappointing performance, being eliminated in the Round of 16 by Song Lam Nghe An. Additionally, they failed to advance to the knockout stage of the 2017 AFC Cup after a disheartening 2–6 defeat to Ceres-Negros in their final group stage game.

In the 2018 season, the success of the Vietnam U23 team in the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, where Hanoi players played a crucial role, significantly boosted interest in the club. The team began with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Haiphong at Hang Day Stadium and then won 5–0 against Hoang Anh Gia Lai in a match that reached the stadium's audience limit of 25,000. Hanoi FC secured the championship with 64 points and 72 goals scored, clinching the title with 5 rounds to spare. However, the season ended on a disappointing note when the team missed the opportunity to reach the 2018 Vietnamese Cup final after a goalless draw against Becamex Binh Duong at Gò Đậu Stadium. With an aggregate score of 3–3, Hanoi was eliminated due to the away goals rule.

In 2019, Hanoi started the season with a victory in the AFC Champions League round 1 play-off, winning 1–0 against Thai club Bangkok United. However, in the second play-off match, Hanoi suffered a 2–4 defeat to Chinese team Shandong Luneng despite taking the lead in the first half and putting in a strong performance. This defeat saw the team enter the 2019 AFC Cup group stage. Domestically, the season began with a 2–0 victory over Becamex Binh Duong in the Super Cup, followed by a remarkable 5–0 win against Than Quang Ninh.

The team faced a tougher title race than in the previous season, competing in three different competitions—V.League 1, the Vietnamese Cup, and the AFC Cup—and contending with the rising side Ho Chi Minh City. Hanoi FC dropped points in stoppage time against underdogs like Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Sanna Khanh Hoa BVN, and direct competitors Ho Chi Minh City. Nevertheless, the team's strong performances in subsequent rounds allowed them to secure the V.League 1 title two rounds early after a victory against Song Lam Nghe An.

In the 2019 AFC Cup, Hanoi topped Group F and progressed through the knockout stage, overcoming Ceres Negros, Becamex Binh Duong, and Altyn Asyr to reach the inter-zone final. They were narrowly eliminated by North Korean team 4.25 SC due to the away goals rule.

With five V.League 1 titles, Hanoi became the club with the most V.League 1 championships since the league's professionalization in the 2000-2001 season. In the 2019 Vietnamese Cup, Hanoi defeated Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Duoc Nam Ha Nam Dinh before securing a convincing 3–0 win against Ho Chi Minh City in the semi-final. Despite playing away and in adverse weather conditions due to a storm, Hanoi won the 2019 Vietnamese Cup, adding the only major trophy previously missing from their collection.

In 2022, under the management of Chun Jae-ho, Hanoi FC won the 2022 V.League 1, marking their sixth title and tying them with The Cong-Viettel for the most V.League titles since the league began in 1980. They also won the 2022 Vietnamese Cup, which qualified them for the 2023–24 AFC Champions League group stage.

In the 2023 season, under Montenegro head coach Bozidar Bandovic, Hanoi started by winning the 2023 Vietnamese Super Cup after defeating Haiphong in the final. However, this was their only title of the season as they finished as runners-up in the 2023 V.League 1, behind Hanoi Police. They were also eliminated in the Round of 16 of the Vietnamese Cup after losing to Viettel.

AFC Champions League group stage debut

As a result of winning the 2022 V.League 1 title, Hanoi FC made their AFC Champions League group stage debut, being drawn in Group J with Pohang Steelers, Wuhan Three Towns, and Urawa Red Diamonds. To prepare for their first appearance in the 2023–24 AFC Champions League, Hanoi FC reached an agreement with the National Sports Complex to use Mỹ Đình National Stadium as their home ground.

On September 20, 2023, the club played their first match, suffering a 2–4 home defeat against South Korean side Pohang Steelers. In their second match, Hanoi lost 0–6 to the defending champions, Urawa Red Diamonds. Due to these poor performances, coach Božidar Bandović was sacked and replaced by his assistant, Lê Đức Tuấn.

In his debut away match against Chinese club Wuhan Three Towns, a 9-man Hanoi FC lost 1–2. However, in their fourth group match, Hanoi FC bounced back with a 2–1 victory over Wuhan Three Towns at home, with both goals scored by Phạm Tuấn Hải. In the fifth group match, Hanoi FC lost again, this time 0–2 to Pohang Steelers. In their final match, the club achieved a 2–1 victory over Urawa Red Diamonds, eliminating the champions from defending their title and handing them their first loss against an ASEAN side in 16 years.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

Stadium

Since its creation in 2006, the team has played at Hàng Đẫy Stadium in Đống Đa, Hanoi. The stadium was established on 1 January 1930 as a football field for Hanoi's École d’Éducation Physique (EDEP - School of Physical Education). Shortly after, EDEP was renamed Société d'Éducation Physique du Tonkin (SEPTO - Tonkin Society of Physical Education). From 1936 to 1938, a 400-seat wooden stand and bordering walls were constructed, and the stadium was subsequently known as SEPTO Stadium. On 16 February 1956, the stadium was rebuilt, and the new Hàng Đẫy Stadium was officially opened on 24 August 1958. The structure has remained largely unchanged since then, with some upgrades made in the 1990s.

In 2016, the stadium was handed over to the club as a gesture recognizing the club's professionalism and success. During a visit to France by Nguyễn Phú Trọng, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, in 2018, he and French President Emmanuel Macron signed several cooperation agreements, including one for the rebuilding and renovation of the stadium. The new stadium, which will cost €250 million, will be designed and built by the French company Bouygues. However, due to various issues, the project has not yet been scheduled for implementation.

Supporters

The club has a relatively small, if not low, number of supporters despite its prestigious achievements, partly due to past corruption in the V.League, which led many people to lose interest in attending matches. To improve its image, a group of fans established the first official fan base for the club, known as Contras Hanoi, in 2015. After facing early difficulties and conflicts with older fans, Contras Hanoi grew to over 2,000 followers on Facebook by 2018 and has continued to expand, working to gain official recognition with the club's support. Contras Hanoi released an official fan song, Ô lê! Ô lê ! Hà Nội FC!, in 2022. Today, the club's professionalism is also a notable factor in the growth of Hanoi FC's fan base.

Academy

In addition to their rising football success, Hanoi FC has a network of youth football academies to develop talent for the club. Unlike other major football clubs, Hanoi FC does not have a centralized youth academy. Instead, the youth teams are trained in various Hanoi FC academies, including those in Gia Lâm, Bắc Giang, and Cửa Lò, with the latter sharing facilities with Song Lam Nghe An FC.

Rivalries

Hải Phòng

In terms of geographical factors, Hanoi and Hải Phòng are the two largest cities in northern Vietnam, and their rivalry extends beyond football. Both clubs are among the most successful in the North, making their confrontations known as the "Northern Derby."

Portland is another team that consistently poses challenges for Hanoi FC, often playing in an unpleasant manner. The matches between the two teams are always intense on the field, reflecting the fierce rivalry among their fans. The peak of this rivalry was in the 2016 V.League season, when Hanoi won the championship, edging out Hải Phòng, which was a highly competitive team at that time.

Matches between the teams are often marked by flares, a specialty of Hải Phòng's supporters. In the 2017 season, Hải Phòng was disciplined for causing disturbances in their match against Hanoi during the 6th round of the V.League, resulting in a ban on fans attending away games. In the second leg of that season, a "rain" of flares and water bottles were thrown at My Dinh Stadium (due to Hang Day Stadium's renovation). The VFF Disciplinary Committee subsequently banned Hai Phong fans from away games at the end of the first leg.

In the 2018 season, Hải Phòng was fined a record amount of over 300 million VND by the VFF Disciplinary Committee for setting off flares. However, by the 6th round of the 2019 V.League, a significant number of flares were again burned. Mr. Tran Anh Tu, Chairman of the Board and General Director of VPF, remarked that the match between Hanoi and Hải Phòng had "the most firecrackers ever" he had witnessed. Mr. Vu Xuan Thanh, Head of the VFF Disciplinary Committee, noted that Hải Phòng fans had brought boxes of flares into the stadium.

Over more than a decade of confrontations in the V.League, Hải Phòng and Hanoi FC have each scored 63 goals against each other. Striker Hoang Vu Samson of Hanoi FC is the highest scorer in this rivalry with 12 goals. The intense nature of each match has turned the "Northern Derby" into a crucial and exciting fixture of the V.League, representing a rare true derby in the national championship.

Công An Hà Nội

After being promoted to the 2023 V.League 1, Công An Nhân Dân changed its name to the current Công An Hà Nội, following its relocation to Hanoi. Công An Hà Nội also shares Hàng Đẫy Stadium with Hanoi FC. Shortly after its rebranding, the team made several major signings, including Đoàn Văn Hậu from Hanoi FC. Công An Hà Nội's rapid rise challenged Hanoi FC's dominant status in the league, leading to a new rivalry between the two teams.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai

In the 21st century, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hanoi FC are widely regarded as the most supported clubs in Vietnam, and their confrontations are dubbed the "Vietnamese Super Derby." From 2009 to the end of 2023, the two teams have met 34 times in all competitions, with Hanoi FC leading with 17 wins, 7 draws, and 10 losses. However, the intense rivalry gained significant attention starting in 2018, when U23 Vietnam, featuring many players from both clubs, finished as runners-up in the AFC U-23 Championship.

Since then, matches between Hoang Anh Gia Lai and Hanoi FC have attracted substantial media coverage, as the competition extends beyond the field to include differing football philosophies and management approaches, particularly between their owners Đỗ Quang Hiển and Đoàn Nguyên Đức. Flares and bottle-throwing incidents have occurred during these matches, and tensions have occasionally escalated among players, fans, and even coaching staff. The intense nature of these encounters has often led to controversial referee decisions that impact the game's dynamics and outcomes.

Viettel

Like Công An Hà Nội, Viettel and Hanoi FC are local football clubs based in Hanoi. The two teams first met officially during the 2009 season. With the resurgence and rise of Viettel, the Hanoi Derby in 2020 was particularly tense, featuring two red cards, one for each team. They have faced each other 16 times in their history, with Hanoi FC dominating Viettel with 10 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses.

Nam Định

Nam Định fans began to follow in Hải Phòng's footsteps by setting off flares at Hàng Đẫy Stadium as an act of revenge against Hanoi FC. The situation escalated in Round 22 of the 2019 V-League. During the second half of the match between Hanoi and Nam Định, a flare launched from Stand B, where Nam Định fans were seated, shot toward Stand A, striking a female fan named Huyền Anh in the thigh. She suffered severe sulfur burns that affected her bone, requiring surgery.

This incident sparked outrage in the Vietnamese online community, with many condemning the extreme actions of some Nam Định fans. The police in Đống Đa district prosecuted the case and summoned 14 Nam Định fans for questioning. Nguyễn Đức Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, directed the City Police to focus on investigating, clarifying, and strictly handling those responsible for the incident.

The match organizers (BTC) imposed heavy penalties on those involved. Hanoi FC was fined 85 million VND for failing to ensure match security. Nam Định was also fined 85 million VND, with 70 million VND for allowing fans to light flares and 15 million VND for throwing objects onto the field. Despite the incident, Hanoi FC won the match 6–1.

Sông Lam Nghệ An

Sông Lam Nghệ An has always been a challenging opponent for both the former Hanoi T&T and the current Hanoi FC. The matches between these teams are always tense, sometimes even violent, with mixed results. Similar to their encounters with Hải Phòng FC, these games are intense both on the field and in the stands. Notably, it was Sông Lam Nghệ An who ended Hanoi FC's 32-match unbeaten streak at home, coinciding with the club's anniversary. They have faced each other 29 times in their history with 12 wins, 12 draws and 2 losses.

Other

The rivalry with Becamex Bình Dương FC has always been intense throughout the seasons, with matches often being highly dramatic. Both teams have frequently won on each other's home grounds. At its peak, Becamex Bình Dương was the only team capable of surpassing Hanoi FC to win the championship for two consecutive years.

Players

First-team squad

Other players under contract

Out on loan

Reserves and academy

U-21 team

Club officials

Managerial history

''Head coaches by years (2006–present)''

Honours

Hanoi FC is one of the most successful clubs in Vietnam and currently holds the title of the most successful club in the 21st century in terms of major trophies, despite only being established in 2006. The club's first trophy was the Vietnamese Third League, which they won as Hanoi T&T in 2006. In 2010, the club secured its first top-division league title. Since then, they have gone on to win a record 6 top-division titles and 3 Vietnamese Cups. These achievements have earned the club a record 8 appearances in the Vietnamese Super Cup, winning 5 of them.

National competitions

League

*V.League 1
**Winners (6; record): 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022
**Runners-up (6): 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2020, 2023
*V.League 2
**Runners-up (1): 2008
* Second League
**Runners-up (1): 2007
* Third League
**Winners (1) : 2006

Cup

*Vietnamese National Cup
**Winners (3; record): 2019, 2020, 2022
** Runners-up (4): 2012, 2015, 2016, 2023-24
*Vietnamese Super Cup
**Winners (5; record): 2010, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022
**Runners-up (3) : 2013, 2015, 2016

Other

*Labor Order 3rd class: 2019

Record

Continental record

All results, both home and away, list Hanoi's goal tally first.

Season-by-season domestical record

See also

* Thái Nguyên T&T W.F.C.

References

External links

*
Team profile
at V.League
Team profile
at Soccerway

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanoi FC
Hanoi FC
Football clubs in Vietnam
Football clubs in Hanoi
Association football clubs established in 2006
2006 establishments in Vietnam