Nam ÃÂá»Ânh Football Club (), currently known as Thép Xanh Nam ÃÂá»Ânh due to sponsorship reasons, is a Vietnamese professional football club based in Nam ÃÂá»Ânh ward, Ninh Bình. The club is currently the defending champions of the V.League 1, the highest football division of Vietnam.
Before 1997, the club's kit always used home colors black-white which were similar to Juventus. It originates from name Namha Youths, so during the 1980-1990s they were called as "Vietnamese Juventus" by the media. However, after some changing times due to sponsor replacements, it was fixed as the yellow, then added lime-red.
HàNam Ninh won the A1 National Football Champions (now V.League) in 1985 with their star player Nguyá» n VÃÂn Dà ©ng.
In 2001, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh took second place in the National Championships, losing to Bình ÃÂá»Ânh. In 2007, the Nam ÃÂá»Ânh football team changed its name to ÃÂạm Phú Mỹ Nam ÃÂá»Ânh and won its first National Cup under its new name. In 2009 the Nam ÃÂá»Ânh Football team changed its name to Megastar Nam ÃÂá»Ânh and failed in standing on V.League to 1st level tournament 2010.
In 2011, the team changed its name back to Mikado Nam ÃÂá»Ânh and was relegated to the second division after only one year. In 2012, Mikado Nam ÃÂá»Ânh failed to win promotion to the first division after losing on penalties to the Khánh Hòa youth team in the semi-finals. In 2014, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh won a place in the 2015 First Division after defeating Vénh Long 4âÂÂ0 in the Second Division final at Tam Kỳ Stadium, Quảng Nam. In 2016, the team finished third overall and took part in the play-off of the 2016 National First Division but failed to win promotion to the V.League.
The following season, the team won the 2017 First Division championship and won the only place to play in the 2018 V.League. In 2019, the team introduced a new sponsor, Nam Ha Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, and changed its name to Dðợc Nam HàNam ÃÂá»Ânh to compete in the V.League 2019. In 2021, the team changed its name back to Nam ÃÂá»Ânh Football Club after the end of the contract with Nam Ha Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.However, this was still a period when financial difficulties always threaten the existence of the club.
Typically, the times are continuously slow or out of the budget, even have to accept relegation because they cannot find a worthy funding. There are seasons that the team leaders have to pray for help from the fan association.
After many poor seasons and even nearing relegation, since 2023, under the guidance of head coach Và © Há»Âng Viá»Ât, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh has continuously been in the top 5 strongest teams in V-League.
On 25 June 2024, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh officially won the 2023âÂÂ24 V.League 1 title after a 5âÂÂ1 victory against Khánh Hòa in the final league match. It was the club's first top-flight league title after 39 years since their last win in 1985. Following the title, the club qualified for the inaugural 2024âÂÂ25 AFC Champions League Two group stage, making their return to the intercontinental tournament since the 2008 AFC Champions League. On 18 September 2024, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh played against Hong Kong club Lee Man at the Mong Kok Stadium. Rafaelson and Lucas Silva scored a goal to secured a 2âÂÂ0 win over the Hong Kong club. Nam ÃÂá»Ânh finished in second place in the group stage, thus seeing the team advance to the round of 16 facing against Japanese club Sanfreece Hiroshima. However, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh was hammered 7âÂÂ0 by the J1 League club, resulting in elimination.
Head coach Và © Há»Âng Viá»Ât then helmed the club to successfully retain their league title, thus winning the 2024âÂÂ25 V.League 1 title, and being granted qualification to the 2025âÂÂ26 AFC Champions League Two and also the regional 2025âÂÂ26 ASEAN Club Championship. In the ASEAN Club Championship, Nam ÃÂá»Ânh was drawn into group B with Johor Darul Ta'zim F.C., Bangkok United F.C., Lion City Sailors FC, runners-up of the 2024âÂÂ25 AFC Champions League Two and PKR Svay Rieng, runners-up of the 2024âÂÂ25 AFC Challenge League.
The club's name was also changed 10 times due to sponsorship reasons:
Nam ÃÂá»Ânh Ward has two sports facilities, Thiên Trðá»Âng Stadium (formerly Chùa Cuá»Âi Stadium) and Trần Quá»Âc Toản Indoor Stadium, which host both football and volleyball matches. Both sports centers are located on Hùng Vðáng Street.
At the beginning, the club's home stadium was a dusty training ground of the militia forces, which was usually referred to as Sân Dá»Ât or the "stadium" of the . It was a former field of the Vietnamese National Army's .
From the end of 1970s, their home stadium was Thiên Trðá»Âng Stadium. During the Vietnam War, this stadium had become a big, polluted pond with vegetable fields. Until 2003, it was also known as Chùa Cuá»Âi Stadium (lit. Last Temple Stadium).
Head coaches by years (2003âÂÂpresent)