Will coach Park Hang-seo cooperate with Mr. Duc?

Now is the opening period of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, and preparations are underway for the Asian Football Cup and the U23 Asian Cup final in early 2024… so it is very possible that everything will be disrupted, become surprising, and unpredictable in the top football teams in the region.

First of all, the Thai team, after two consecutive successful campaigns with coach Polking at the AFF Cup 2021 and 2022, now had to replace him with a Japanese head coach, coach Masatada Ishii - in order to save the "disaster" of the Golden Temple team that may not go to the 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup because of the loss at home to China. Meanwhile, the Indonesian team with hope Shin Tae-yong could not meet the expectations of the fans of the archipelago, when they just lost heavily to the Iraqi team 1-5 and only held their neighbor the Philippines to a 1-1 draw in the ambitious 2nd qualifying round campaign mentioned above.

It is possible to feel more secure with the Vietnam National Team under Troussier when everything is gradually going in the right direction, but the story lies in the V-League with the newly renamed team LP Bank Hoang Anh Gia Lai, which means bringing this team back to the ambition of winning the national championship and reaching the regional and continental level. The problem is that Kiatisuk's contract with the Mountain City team is about to expire and after that, who has the most affinity with Mr. Duc from the past until now, that person will most likely be assigned the responsibility of steering this ship?

All three of the above “facts” currently point to a familiar name: Mr. Park Hang-seo. After a successful cycle with the Vietnam National Team and U23 Vietnam, the Korean coach said he would continue to stay in Vietnam and work in school football in his “second homeland”, and currently that important and meaningful thing is happening. But rumors have been circulating around this strategist: From the fact that he will go to Thailand, then Indonesia, then to Ho Chi Minh City Club in V-League and most recently, in the not too distant future, he will reunite with Mr. Duc with the Mountain City team… Rumors are one thing, the sports press spreading the news is another, but in reality, they are “silent” with this coach.

The Thais did not hesitate to choose the Technical Director familiar with the Thai League to be the head coach, Mr. Ishi, as mentioned above. Although someone tried to stir up rumors and pressure, Mr. Shin Tae-yong remained in his position in Indonesia. At Ho Chi Minh City Club, in the end, the duo Park Hang-seo and Lee Young-jin did not "arrive". Then, rumors continued to surround Mr. Park Hang-seo with a near future of going to LP Bank Hoang Anh Gia Lai, fully loyal to Mr. Duc and bringing this team back to the glory of the not-so-distant past...

No one can deny the merit of Mr. Duc in finding and bringing in the Korean coach to bring Vietnamese football to the top of the continent in the past 5 years, from 2017-2022. Many people have continuously sought to restore the glory of Vietnamese football in the past.Coach Park Hang-seoto compare with the current Mr. Troussier. Mr. Park Hang-seo has strengths that many predecessors of the Vietnam National Team do not have, the most prominent of which is encouraging the spirit of solidarity, creating unparalleled strength for the players, connecting them in a family. His defensive-counterattacking style of play was also a strong brand at that time. His love for Vietnam and his assistant team is sacred, flesh and blood, making the Vietnamese people love and trust him as much as a family member.

Not only that, his name has since spread far and wide across the region and continent. Of course, it is true that many countries in the region want his services, such as Thailand and Indonesia. Whenever teams have problems with their head coaches, people point out his name as an ideal, perfect replacement. And he himself, after a period of not participating in top football, has officially wanted to return to his favorite job, even though he will have to overcome some obstacles such as the affection he has for Vietnamese fans, for example?

Among the countless options before him, it is easy to imagine that Mr. Park Hang-seo's path to stay with Vietnamese football is the most suitable and feasible, specifically returning to his close friend at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Mr. Duc? Along with that, is the condition that Kiatisuk does not sign a new contract with the Mountain City team and Coach Akira Nishino does not complete his mission with the Thai team, forcing people to invite Zico Thai again? This possibility is very high because the Thai team was previously unsuccessful with a Japanese head coach, Mr. Akira Nishino, and now it is not easy for Mr. Masatada Ishii to complete his mission well.

Returning to Vietnamese football, Mr. Park Hang-seo will again live in a wonderful football atmosphere, which is not easy to find elsewhere. Although, V-League may have many differences, it has made coaches Alfred Riedl, coach Miura taste bitterness, unwanted failures and Mr. Park Hang-seo may not be an exception?

But anyway, everything is still ahead and the hope that Park Hang-seo will return to Vietnamese football, for a passionate football lover like Mr. Duc, is a beautiful dream, a beautiful reality that everyone agrees with, welcomes, and waits for. That alone shows how big the Park Hang-seo brand is not only in Vietnam but also in the region and continent. Is Park Hang-seo's return to Vietnamese football impossible or possible, we have to wait for time to answer?