Director Park Hang-seo has completed a five-year partnership with Vietnam. Coach “Ssaldink” Park will forever remain a hero of Vietnamese soccer.
Vietnam, led by coach Park, knelt 0-1 in the second leg of the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Football Championship (Mitsubishi Cup) final held at Tammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, Thailand on the 16th (Korean time).
Vietnam, which had previously drawn 2-2 in the first match held at home, was satisfied with the runner-up finish with an aggregate score of 2-3. After this tournament, coach Park puts down the baton of the Vietnamese national team.
Coach Park took over as head coach of the Vietnamese national team in 2017. Since then, he has started to rewrite Vietnam’s soccer history, serving as the coach of the A national team as well as the under-23 (U-23) national team. He was like Vietnam’s Hiddink.
The 2018 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship was the best runner-up ever, and it was the start of ‘Park Hang-seo Magic’. Then, at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta Palembang, the team advanced to the semifinals for the first time in Vietnamese history.
In 2019, Vietnam won the championship trophy at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA) for the first time in 60 years. Park Hang-seo was a Vietnam hero. Recognized for this achievement, Park was awarded the second-class Labor Medal from the Vietnamese government. In May 2020, he succeeded in winning two consecutive championships at the SEA held in his country. 토토사이트
While leading his A team, coach Park demonstrated his capabilities. He succeeded in winning the AFF Cup in 2018, and reached the top for the second time in 10 years since 2008.
At the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where Asian powerhouses compete, he left a strong impression by leading Vietnam to the quarterfinals. Last year, Vietnam made it to the final FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the first time. Furthermore, they overcame China and tasted their first win in the final qualifying round.
Although he unfortunately finished runner-up in this tournament, Park’s leadership is already being recognized by the Southeast Asian football world. He did not spare even the enemy generals with high praise.
Nuanpan Lamsam (57, female), general manager of the Thai national football team, recently raised a thumbs up towards coach Park, saying, “I really respect him. Coach Park has changed Vietnamese football. Furthermore, he has changed the landscape of Southeast Asian football.”
Director Lam Sam praised them, saying, “There is a difference between Vietnam at 96th and Thailand at 111th in the current world rankings. Vietnamese players are also actively advancing overseas.”
While leading the Vietnamese national team, he showed a lot of truly human sides. When moving on his plane, he gave up his business class seat to the injured player, and he also visited the hospital where the player was hospitalized to give comfort. After playing the last game in the homeroom, he showed consideration for the media, saying, “It’s the last (home) press conference, so ask more questions from the reporters.” After the press conference, he shook hands with reporters and took pictures with them, smiling brightly.
Coach Park is now taking a break to prepare for his next football career. His future activities continue to attract attention.