Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his journey to Hong Linh Ha Tinh

Thus, Hong Linh Ha Tinh is the 4th professional football team that the strategist from Nghe An has led.

Immediately after the news of coach Pham Minh Duc's departureHong Linh Ha Tinh, most fans predict that coach Nguyen Thanh Cong will be the new "captain" of the team currently at the bottom of the rankings in phase 1.V.League 2021. Because at that time, the strategist born in 1977 had just left Quang Nam and had made many impressions in his role as a "firefighter" at Saigon, Thanh Hoa and Quang Nam clubs, the teams currently playing in the First Division.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong when he was still leading Saigon FC. Photo: Trong Vu

Remember, the first timeCoach Nguyen Thanh Congwas "sitting in the hot seat" at the beginning of the second leg of V.League 2018. Due to the poor performance of Saigon FC (losing 2 consecutive matches against HAGL and SLNA), the Board of Directors of the Thong Nhat Stadium team decided to replace head coach Phan Van Tai Em with assistant Nguyen Thanh Cong. This was a bold "move" of the Board of Directors of Saigon FC, because the youngest son of former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh did not have much coaching experience in the V.League arena.

However, it did not take long for coach Nguyen Thanh Cong to dispel the doubts of experts and fans of the Saigon team. Under the "hands of the mold" of the former SLNA striker, the Saigon Club's playing style has been gradually perfected. At the end of V.League 2018, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong and his team won 31 points and finished in 8th place, 7 points more than the team that had to compete in the play-off match, Nam Dinh (Nam Dinh had 24 points).

A year later, in the next season leadingSaigon Club, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong further demonstrated his leadership ability. With the quality of the squad not having many positive changes, the Thong Nhat Stadium team still performed a very annoying style of play. Thanks to that, after 26 rounds, Saigon FC won 36 points (5 points more than V.League 2018) and finished in 5th place, above famous teams such as SLNA, HAGL, SHB Da Nang, Quang Nam or Thanh Hoa.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong when he was still leading Thanh Hoa. Photo: Manh Cuong

Unfortunately, due to family reasons, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong had to leave Saigon FC to return to his hometown. It was not until the first phase of V.League 2020 had passed 3 rounds that Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong "reappeared" on the pitch. Receiving an invitation from Mr. De, the strategist from Nghe An agreed to help Thanh Hoa overcome the crisis. At the time Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong took over the "hot seat" left by Coach Fabio Lopez, the Thanh team had not yet won any points in the first phase of V.League 2020 (losing all 3 matches).

The appearance of coach Nguyen Thanh Cong has completely changed the face of Thanh Hoa. From a weak and dispirited team under coach Fabio Lopez, the Thanh team suddenly became a formidable opponent. Before having to pack their bags and leave Thanh Hoa (due to disagreement with Mr. De), coach Nguyen Thanh Cong managed to help Hoang Dinh Tung and his teammates gain 14 points (4 wins, 2 draws, 2 losses), and escape the danger zone (up to 8th place).

Not long after returning home, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong received a "rescue call" from the Quang Nam Board of Directors. At that time, the Quang Nam team was also stuck at the bottom of the rankings of the second phase of V.League 2020. Chairman Nguyen Hup's goal was to hope that Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong would bring the Tam Ky team to a safe finish line. Despite great efforts, the victories against Nam Dinh, SHB Da Nang and Hai Phong still could not help Quang Nam "escape".

Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong (middle) when he was still leading Quang Nam. Photo: AS

Instead of leaving the "sinking ship" Quang Nam to seek opportunities at a team playing in the V.League, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong chose to continue working alongside Dinh Thanh Trung, Huynh Tan Sinh, Nguyen Anh Hung... to conquer the promotion ticket. But then Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's adventure at Tam Ky Stadium had to stop, when Quang Nam did not win any of the first 4 matches in the first phase of the 2021 National First Division (2 draws, 2 losses).

Having just handed over the job to his successor, Coach Duong Hong Son, Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong's mobile phone received a call from the Board of Directors of Hong Linh Ha Tinh. At the enthusiastic invitation of the head of the "Hong Mountain" football team, the 44-year-old strategist agreed to sit in the "hot seat" that used to belong to Coach Pham Minh Duc. A rather brave decision by Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, in the current situation (Hong Linh Ha Tinh is at the "bottom" position on the rankings of phase 1 of V.League 2021, with only 6 points).

Witnessing the journey of Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong over the years, experts and football fans in the country have called him "the welder" - the nickname of Coach Claudio Ranieri - who has led famous teams such as Parma, Cagliari, Fiorentina, Juventus, AS Roma, Napoli, Inter Milan, Sampdoria (Italy), Valencia, Atletico Madrid (Spain), Chelsea, Leicester City, Fulham (England), Monaco, Nantes (France)... The reason Coach Claudio Ranieri is called "the welder" is because when he took over the "hot seat", most of the teams were in a crisis of form.

Let's wait and see if the "Vietnamese version of the welder" - Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong can "revive" a "clinically dead" Hong Linh Ha Tinh?