Coach Troussier is set to return, aiming directly at a top 5 world team.

Having been away from the Vietnam squad for over two years and virtually out of the football scene, Troussier surprisingly revealed his ambition to come back as a coach, with a special focus on the Japan women's team.

Amid speculations about his possible return after a break, Coach Philippe Troussier recently made a surprising statement expressing his desire to lead one of the strongest national teams in the world. Remarkably, the destination the French strategist is aiming for is not a men's team, but the Japan women's national team.

After parting ways with Vietnam in March 2024, Troussier went into semi-retirement, returning to France to focus on his wine business and not accepting any coaching offers. However, in a recent interview with Shueisha, the former coach Vietnam national team drew the attention of Asian media by finally speaking out for the first time about his future plans.

"I like the men's team, but I am also very interested in the Japan women's team. Women's football is developing very rapidly worldwide, and Japan has many players who can adapt to the tactical philosophy I pursue. If given the chance, I want to use all the experience I have accumulated to contribute to them", Troussier shared.

This statement quickly generated great interest, because the Japan women's national team is currently one of the leading powers in world football. 'Nadeshiko Japan' is ranked among the top 5 strongest teams in the FIFA rankings and remains a strong contender in every major tournament.

For fans of the Land of the Rising Sun, Philippe Troussier is no stranger. The 1955-born strategist experienced a glorious period with the 'Blue Samurai' from 1998 to 2002. He laid the foundation for Japan's golden generation with the 2000 Asian Cup victory, and also helped the national team advance past the group stage for the first time to reach the round of 16 World Cup 2002 on home soil.

Thanks to those achievements, despite leaving Japan more than two decades ago, Troussier still enjoys special respect from the country's media and fans. He is frequently invited by major newspapers for interviews to share his views on modern football as well as the development of Japanese football.

After a less-than-successful stint in Vietnam, many thought the French coach would end his coaching career. However, his proactive expression of desire to return to the sidelines at age 71 shows that the 'White Wizard' still retains his passion for contributing.

However, the chances of that becoming a reality are not simple. The Japan women's national team is currently led by Coach Michihisa Kano and maintains consistent performance on the international stage. Yet, with the reputation and legacy that Philippe Troussier built in the Land of the Rising Sun, his latest statement will surely make fans in the cherry blossom country curious about the possibility of a surprising reunion in the future.