This development once again shows that a solid financial foundation and an effective youth training system are still key factors determining the sustainability of football clubs.
Consequences of an unsustainable model
Quy Nhon Binh Dinh Club's relegation is a sad ending, but not too surprising to those who have followed the ups and downs of the martial arts team over the years. From the peak of expectations, the team quickly fell into a financial crisis and then continuously went downhill.
Remember, in 2021, Binh Dinh returned to V.League after 12 years of absence. Immediately, this team made a strong impression when receiving a commitment of a 300 billion VND sponsorship package in 3 years from two large enterprises. With abundant financial resources, Binh Dinh has aggressively recruited quality players such as Rafaelson (Nguyen Xuan Son), Hendrio, Rimario, Dang Van Lam, Tran Dinh Trong, Ha Duc Chinh...
Under coach Nguyen Duc Thang, Binh Dinh won 3rd place in V.League 2022 and was runner-up in the National Cup in the same year. However, that achievement is not commensurate with the huge investment. More importantly, this team lacks a sustainable foundation - from the youth training system to the operating apparatus to create a stable source of income in addition to corporate sponsorship.
When the cash flow was no longer strong, the loopholes began to appear. The sponsoring company at times wanted to return the team to the province. Head coach Nguyen Duc Thang left, and many stars also left the team one after another. Although coach Bui Doan Quang Huy later helped Binh Dinh win the V.League 2023-2024 runner-up position spectacularly, that achievement could not hide the overall decline in terms of organization and force.
Entering the 2024-2025 season, due to financial reasons, Binh Dinh had to say goodbye to more than a dozen players, most of them key players. The new recruits could not fill that void and the team quickly fell into the relegation race. From being 5 points ahead of SHB Da Nang Club, they did not win in the last 6 matches, only to be surpassed by SHB Da Nang and relegated.
At the end of the season, Binh Dinh finished at the bottom of the table. A team that once dreamed of winning the championship but had to sadly play in the First Division, that was the inevitable consequence of an unsustainable development model. When the sponsor withdrew, without a strong enough financial - technical - human resources ecosystem, the team immediately went into a downward spiral.
Waiting for business is not enough
The story of Binh Dinh is a valuable lesson for football teams that only survive on money from businesses. A football team that constantly changes its name like Binh Dinh - from TopenLand, MerryLand, and later Quy Nhon Binh Dinh, partly shows its dependence on businesses and short-term partners. If it cannot find a new sponsor with enough potential and enthusiasm, and does not rebuild in the direction of building a truly professional training system and club organization, the team may face the risk of dissolution and having its name erased.
In fact, not only Binh Dinh, many Vietnamese football teams have “disappeared” from the “professional football map” for the same reason. That is the case of the once-famous Dong Tam Long An , but because they did not have a business partner, they immediately “went downhill”, and now have to be content with playing in the First Division.
Obviously, building a professional model, having a youth training academy, having a brand development strategy, diverse financial resources... are necessary conditions for a football club to exist firmly. Clubs like Hanoi FC, The Cong Viettel , or even Hoang Anh Gia Lai are still standing firm in the V.League playground largely thanks to a systematic training system, having a brand that is strong enough to attract sponsors.
Although Hanoi FC no longer gives out free tickets to the stadium like in the early stages of development, the team has sent a message that fans who love the team should buy tickets to watch the matches live. And, on the team's fanpage, the fans themselves support this. They encourage each other not to buy "fake" uniforms to cheer for the team, but to buy from the club's own store to support the team. That is a good sign, partly showing the sustainable development direction of Hanoi FC.
According to football expert Phan Anh Tu, to play professional football, you cannot depend on businesses forever. When a football team lacks a sustainable development roadmap, fails to build internal strength from a systematic training system, does not have a clear financial strategy and completely relies on cash flow from sponsors, the risk of "going downhill" can happen at any time.
The "Binh Dinh lesson" this season is not just for one team, but for all clubs that want to stand firm in the highest level of Vietnamese football.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/v-league-2024-2025-ket-thuc-van-la-bai-toan-xay-nha-tu-mong-707105.html
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