This move is seen as a step to refresh the coaching staff and aim to improve the performance of Lao football in the coming period.
Mr. Vladica Grujic was born in 1970, played as a professional midfielder in the period 1992-2005. After retiring, the Serbian coach switched to coaching and owns the UEFA Pro certificate - the highest-ranking coaching certificate of European football.
In his coaching career, Mr. Grujic worked in many different football backgrounds in Europe and Asia, assuming the role of assistant and head coach in Austria, Japan, Spain, India, Serbia. He also worked in Southeast Asia when he joined the coaching staff of Buriram United (Thailand).
Notably, this strategist is no stranger to Lao football as he used to hold the role of assistant coach of the national team in the 2010-2011 period, when coach Hans-Peter Schaller led the team.
According to the plan, the first task of the new head coach will be to lead the Lao team to play against Nepal in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers on March 31st. After that, Mr. Grujic will continue to coach at ASEAN Cup 2026, taking place from July 24th to August 26th, where the Lao team is in Group B with Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.
In addition to his professional duties in the national team, the LFF expects Mr. Grujic to participate in the process of building a youth training system, coordinating with professional departments to improve the quality of player development in the coming time.
