The Spanish coach has made his first decision at the Vietnamese football club

Gerard Albadalejo has been granted complete control over technical decisions by Becamex TP.HCM, along with the addition of two overseas assistant coaches in preparation for the 2026/2027 V.League 2 campaign.

Just a few days after officially taking over the head coach position, Gerard Albadalejo, head coach of Becamex TP.HCM, quickly set to work rebuilding the team. The Spanish tactician decided to bring in two foreign assistants of his own choosing, while also receiving absolute trust from the club's leadership, being granted full professional authority ahead of the 2026/2027 V.League 2 season.

The addition of new staff is seen as a crucial step in the plan to build a modern and cohesive coaching structure. According to Coach Gerard Albadalejo’s vision, the coaching staff needs more highly skilled associates to support the process of improving team quality, aiming to bring Becamex TP.HCM back to the V.League 1 arena as soon as possible.

The first assistant to join the team is Cristopher Hernandez, a fitness coach born in 1997, from Andorra, holding a UEFA A license. He has specialized training in sports science, strength development, load management, injury prevention, and player recovery. Before coming to Vietnam, Cristopher Hernandez spent nearly five years working in various countries across Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia, including a stint at Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC in Cambodia.

The other is Fran Mateu, a Spanish goalkeeper coach who also holds a UEFA A license. Fran Mateu has worked in several divisions within Spain’s RFEF system, from the top tier, second tier, and third tier to the youth División de Honor. In addition to goalkeeper training, he has experience as a professional analysis specialist, promising to bring significant value to Becamex TP.HCM’s coaching staff.

Immediately after gathering at Binh Duong Stadium, the trio of foreign coaches quickly got to work. Gerard Albadalejo and his two assistants continuously demonstrated exercises on the field, corrected individual player skills, and fostered a positive training atmosphere. The professionalism and rapid integration of the foreign coaches are expected to help the team enhance its technical quality during the preparatory phase.

Notably, Chairman Ho Hong Thach has given full authority to Coach Gerard Albadalejo in all professional matters, from selecting assistants and building the coaching staff to reviewing the current squad of nearly 40 players. The club’s leadership has also pledged to support all decisions related to training plans, tactics, and personnel. With strong backing from the top, Becamex TP.HCM is demonstrating a comprehensive commitment to renewal, aiming to secure a return to V.League 1 as soon as possible.