Coach Park Hang-seo and the story of overcoming limits

Most of them highly appreciated the contributions of the Korean coach in the past 5 years (2018-2023) and expressed regret and concern for the next stage of Vietnamese football and the Vietnam National Team. Of course, there are also opinions that Mr. Park Hang-seo stopping now is reasonable, when everything is still beautiful, it is not too late. Why is that?

Coach Park constantly goes to the sidelines to direct his players. Photo: Hai Hoang

First of all, the unparalleled achievements of Mr. Park Hang-seo so far are the process of bringing Vietnamese football to the top of the region, reaching the continental level. That is the achievement of reaching the final qualifying round of the World Cup in Asia, the quarter-finals of the ASIAD, the runner-up of the U23 Asia. That is the champion of the AFF Cup, the champion of the SEA Games twice. But do not forget, it isVietnam teamUnder Mr. Park Hang-seo, the 2018 AFF Cup championship was not successfully defended at the 2021 AFF Cup and the final task before leaving the Vietnam National Team is to take back the AFF Cup throne from rival Thailand at the tournament at the end of this year - it is not yet possible to say whether he will be able to do it or not?

Another important thing for things to quickly come to a “consensus” between VFF and Mr. Park Hang-seo is the poor performance of the Vietnam National Team in the third qualifying round of the Asian World Cup. When facing the top teams in the continent, when the road to a World Cup ticket seems very short, we suddenly realize that the road to the World Cup is actually very far, if Vietnamese football does not change, does not renew everything right now.

Coach Park requires U23 Vietnam's playing style to be stable. Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang

Everyone knows that the 2026 World Cup is ahead with many promises of expanding to 32 participating places, including opportunities for the Vietnam National Team. Coach Park Hang-seo has been successful with the generation of players Quang Hai, Hung Dung, Van Duc, Tien Linh, Cong Phuong, Van Toan... but it seems that everything is "hitting the ceiling" for both teachers and students if we consider a more distant future. The hope and responsibility of Vietnamese football today actually begins to fall on the shoulders of Thanh Binh, Viet Anh, Van Khang, Van Truong, Van Xuan, Tuan Tai, Xuan Tien, Van Cuong... who are currently being tested in the V-League.

The best plays and the best cards of Mr. Park Hang-seo have been shown in both the continent and the region. The strongest points have been promoted, the weakest points have also been "figured out" by the opponent (like 2 matches with Thailand, 1 match with Indonesia in the AFF Cup 2021, like the match with the Philippines in the 31st SEA Games). The governmentCoach Park Hang-seoalso clearly recognized this, so he recommended his compatriot Gong Oh-kyun for U23 Vietnam at the 2022 U23 Asian Cup finals, clearly seeing how much U23 Vietnam has changed in terms of playing style and personnel compared to the previous squad.

Coach Park Hang-seo tries to create a comfortable atmosphere in the Vietnam National Team before the match against the Singapore National Team. Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang

There were times when experts and fans were worried and impatient with Mr. Park Hang-seo himself for his conservatism and slowness to change (calling out players who had lost their form to focus, arranging the old lineup... especially in the recent World Cup qualifiers). But there were also times when Mr. Park Hang-seo proved that he would do everything, do what was best for Vietnamese football (like a new lineup to beat China 3-1 early this spring, like calling back Van Quyet recently...).

Many people also strongly believe that in the final battle at the AFF Cup at the end of this year, Mr. Park Hang-seo will not, for any reason, be conservative or sentimental, choose the right, precise team, capable of surprising any opponent, whether Thailand or Indonesia, Malaysia or the Philippines, to win the most meaningful gift before saying goodbye to Vietnamese football?

That is also when everything is at its peak, it is a timely stop, very difficult but very advisable for those who have many contributions, many impressions like Mr. Park Hang-seo and Vietnamese football. Even when the Vietnamese team cannot regain what has been lost, Mr. Park Hang-seo's decision to stop early is considered wise and far-sighted.

Coach Park Hang-seo said many young players are still stressed. Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang

Football, like life, is always developing and progressing. Establishing a new peak is very difficult, but Mr. Park Hang-seo has done it. Overcoming one's own limits, the current limits of Vietnamese football will be impossible. Now is the time for Vietnamese football to reach another peak, needing another person, another generation to take on the task, the goal is the 2026 World Cup not far ahead. The legacy of Mr. Park Hang-seo and Vietnamese football today is a solid foundation, a launching pad for future success.

It is very possible that Vietnamese football will soon achieve the goal of participating in the World Cup, like Futsal or women's football has done, sooner or later. But achieving resounding, continuous success, causing great impact like the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo, is not easy for anyone to keep up with, catch up with, even though all comparisons are always lame?