Coach Nguyen Duc Thang: 'The special one'

(Baonghean.vn) - "If you can't bring SLNA into the TOP 5, Duc Thang should do something to make the Nghe An audience see the efforts of the coaching staff and players so that they flock to the stadium" - a female fan told us when hearing the news that Duc Thang would become the new coach of SLNA next season.

In the SLNA coaching staff, Nguyen Duc Thang was a “latecomer”. It was not until 2012, after Le Ky Phuong voluntarily left the coaching staff, that Duc Thang was nominated to replace him. This is also a rather special case, because usually when leaving the football career, one must have achievements in the youth tournament before being able to join the first team coaching staff. Not to mention, when he was still a goalkeeper, Duc Thang did not have any outstanding achievements.

Experts still joke that a player's life is almost tied to the bench, but Duc Thang is the first Vietnamese goalkeeper to win an international medal but in futsal (in SLNA's shirt) along with Huu Thang, Si Son, Van Luu... in 1997. The only professional mark of this goalkeeper is his unique low-level ball catching style, quite similar to the 1-pass catching style in volleyball.

Nguyen Duc Thang is a special case when he was brought directly into the SLNA first team coaching staff without going through the youth teams.

Compared to coaching youth teams, being a member of the first team's coaching staff has a higher salary, so not everyone has this opportunity. To be frank, Duc Thang received a little favor from the leadership, but he was the one who left the clearest mark.

First of all, he is an important bridge between the club and Bac A Bank, without Duc Thang, the big problem would be difficult to solve. Duc Thang is quite flexible in handling media crises thanks to his good relationship with the press, and his willingness to go and read. The writer of this article has witnessed Duc Thang many times asking to remove articles or asking the press and media to "add a little more wind" to encourage the players.

With the players, Duc Thang knows how to be firm and gentle at the right time, so almost all the first team players respect and fear this assistant coach. Unlike Quang Truong, Duc Thang knows how to choose ways to deal with stubborn juniors with many different tricks, and of course "whoever is good will get candy". With a team that is not too complicated, without many "outsiders", it can be said that this assistant coach does a pretty good job of managing the team.

Duc Thang is being evaluated for his non-professional relationships.

Regarding his expertise, Duc Thang is very studious. He has just obtained an A certificate from the Asian Football Confederation - AFC. This is also the highest certificate in the AFC coaching certification system, and is also one of the mandatory requirements for football coaches when participating in AFC tournaments.

In addition, according to the VFF professional football regulations, having an “A” - AFC certificate is also a mandatory requirement for head coaches when leading a team in the V-League. Is it possible that what Duc Thang is lacking is experience in directing matches, relationships with football teams, referees, and football officials?

In fact, if you pay attention, you will see that in many V-League 2016 matches, Duc Thang has participated quite deeply in professional work from training, team formation and on-field instructions. Many times, the television camera showed that Coach Quang Truong was sitting pensively on the coaching chair, shouting instructions on the track, but it was Duc Thang himself.

SLNA under Quang Truong's leadership has almost hit rock bottom in terms of expertise and audience trust. I'm not sure if Duc Thang is appointed as head coach, he will lead SLNA to compete for the TOP, because football also needs "fate", but I believe Duc Thang will soon restore the trust of Nghe An people who love SLNA.

AT