The Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company has invited a Japanese expert to act as its deputy general director for the 2013 season.

The newly-appointed deputy general director is Kazuyoshi Tanabe who was introduced to Vietnam by Daisuke Nakanishi, managing director and head of the J-League.

Mr. Kazuyoshi Tanabe 

The Voice of Vietnam website said that the VPF would spend a gigantic VND500 million (USD23,800) a month on Tanabe’s wages.

Chairman of VPF Vo Quoc Thang who is also the Chairman of Dong Tam Group has also employed Japanese consultants for his company.

However the new Japanese appointment may find Vietnamese football difficult to come to terms with, as the domestic game suffers from a rapid turnover in club ownership and strong player personalities.

Vietnamese clubs have also largely dispensed with youth team development, preferring large professional squads bolstered by foreign players.

Besides managing domestic tournaments, the Japanese expert will be responsible for seeking sponsors for the Vietnamese football. However, during its 12-years of operation Vietnamese football has never lacked funding.

Vietnamese players are offered more preferential treatment than other countries in the region. Vietnamese football clubs have spent millions of dollars but with little return.

Unlike a vast majority of clubs internationally clubs in Vietnam are financially subsidised by rich owners, rather than relying on developing a strong relationship with their supporters and financial revenues via official merchandise and television rights.

The Japanese expert will encourage clubs to take the basic steps that are second nature to most clubs abroad to reach out and develop a relationship with their local communities.

According to Vietnam News Agency, Tanabe has worked in football administration for 13 years. He previously worked at Japan’s Yokohama FC as operational manager and general director at Ryukyu FC.

In 2004-07, Tanabe worked as marketing director French Ligue 2 side Grenoble, bringing the club revenues of 3-6 million euros per season through his transfer policies.

The VPF and Tanabe are expected to sign a contract in February.

The new football season kicks off in March.