OFFICIAL: Coach Mourinho confirms joining V-League champions

Coach Paulo Mourinho has implicitly confirmed his move to CLB CAHN to serve as an assistant to head coach Mano Polking.

The clearest sign that Paulo Mourinho is about to join Hanoi Police Club appeared on the Portuguese assistant's personal Instagram. He used a hashtag related to CAHN, a move widely seen as confirmation of his next destination. Mourinho’s professional profile also lists his role as assistant at the police-backed club starting from July 2026. The deal is now only awaiting an official announcement from the reigning V-League champions.

According to plans, Paulo Mourinho will serve as the first assistant, supporting head coach Alexandre “Mano” Polking in technical matters and tactical development. Adding a familiar colleague is part of CAHN’s process of finalizing the coaching staff ahead of the new season, with the aim of defending the domestic title and competing in continental tournaments.

Born in 1987, Paulo Mourinho began his career as a player but had limited opportunities to develop in a professional environment. He soon transitioned into coaching. At age 21, Mourinho managed the U19 side of Ribeirense, later gaining experience at various clubs and youth development systems in Portugal.

A turning point came in 2018 when Mourinho moved to Thailand to join the coaching staff of Bangkok United and began working with Mano Polking. The professional bond between the two has lasted for years. When Polking moved on to coach the Thailand national team, the assistant, born in 1987, went to Australia to continue learning in a new environment.

In late 2025, Mourinho returned to Thailand to serve as an assistant at Kanchanaburi Power FC. Notably, this is also the club that recently appointed Coach Park Hang-seo with the task of bringing the team back to the Thai League 1. Kanchanaburi was relegated after the 2025/26 season and targets an immediate promotion in the first season under the guidance of the strategist who previously succeeded with the Vietnam national team.

The close assistant to Coach Park Hang-seo at Kanchanaburi is currently Lee Jung-soo. The former South Korean international previously served as a technical assistant to Coach Kim Sang-sik with the Vietnam national team, then took an interim role at Kanchanaburi before returning to the assistant position. Mourinho left the Thai club to reunite with Polking at CAHN, while Lee Jung-soo becomes a key link in Coach Park Hang-seo’s promotion project.