Major turning points in the career of coach Pham Anh Tuan

Let's look back with Nghe An Newspaper on the journey of former SLNA player Pham Anh Tuan, the face who won the National Championship in 2000, wearing the Nghe An team's shirt.

From reserve striker to "reluctant" right-back

Few people know that when he first joined the SLNA first team (in 1990), Pham Anh Tuan played as a striker. According to former coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh, former player Tuan "Thao" was a striker with good technique, agility and strength, but had poor aerial ability and finishing ability - the main reason why Pham Anh Tuan could not compete for a starting position with the duo Van Sy Hung - Van Sy Thuy.

At the 1992 National Strong Team Tournament held in Da Nang city, Pham Anh Tuan was a member of the Nghe An team that won 3rd place overall. An impressive achievement for coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh and his team in the most prestigious playground of Vietnamese football. However, the joy of former striker Pham Anh Tuan was not complete when he broke his leg in the match against Thanh Hoa Police team.

Coach Pham Anh Tuan worked as an assistant at SLNA for 10 years. Photo courtesy

At the end of the 2000 season, Pham Anh Tuan left SLNA to join the Hanoi ACB team. It is worth mentioning that in that season, his old team SLNA won the V.League. In contrast, in the Hang Day team's shirt, the performance of former right-back Pham Anh Tuan was no longer as good as before.

Leaving the capital after a disappointing season, former player Pham Anh Tuan returned to his hometown and was assigned by SLNA's Board of Directors to take charge of youth training. This is a worthy reward for the contributions of the former player born and raised in Vinh city.

From "stand-in" to the role of head coach of Hai Phong

At the beginning of the 2007 season, Coach Pham Anh Tuan unexpectedly became assistant to Head Coach Van Sy Hung at the First Division football team Vinakansai Ninh Binh Cement. He had not yet "warmed up" at the ancient capital Hoa Lu football team when his former teammate, Coach Van Sy Hung, was fired. In such a situation, the Board of Directors of Vinakansai Ninh Binh Cement football team took the risk of putting Coach Pham Anh Tuan in the "hot seat" (acting Head Coach). Under the leadership of the strategist from Nghe An, the team of Mr. Hoang Manh Truong safely finished 7th in the 2007 National First Division.

Entering the 2008 season, Coach Pham Anh Tuan was promoted to assistant coach for Coach Vu Truong Giang. Unable to help the Vinakansai Ninh Binh Cement team win a promotion ticket with the coaching staff, assistant Pham Anh Tuan said goodbye to the ancient capital of Hoa Lu. Although only in the role of assistant and acting head coach, the time working at the Vinakansai Ninh Binh Cement team helped Pham Anh Tuan accumulate a lot of experience in the coaching profession.

Currently, coach Pham Anh Tuan is leading the Hai Phong football team. Photo: PKL

Just like when he was still playing, Coach Pham Anh Tuan always showed his talent, diligence and enthusiasm. In particular, the strategist born in 1970 has a gentle and simple nature... so he is respected and loved by everyone around him. Many SLNA players even call him "father Tuan", instead of "teacher Tuan", as usual. It is no coincidence that Pham Anh Tuan has been a member of the SLNA coaching staff for 10 years, under the heads of coaches Nguyen Huu Thang, Ngo Quang Truong and Nguyen Duc Thang.

In June 2019, Pham Anh Tuan suddenly submitted his resignation to the SLNA Board of Directors, and it was immediately accepted. It was thought that the former player would pursue another job after years of passion for football.

It was a surprise that before the 2020 season, Pham Anh Tuan was appointed by the Hai Phong team's Board of Directors to the "hot seat" left by coach Truong Viet Hoang. With his talent, experience and enthusiasm, coach Pham Anh Tuan has gradually built the Hai Phong team into a cohesive and combative team. The 4 points earned after 1 win and 1 draw in V.League 2020 of the Lach Tray team is clear proof.

Hopefully, in the near future, Coach Pham Anh Tuan will reap more success in his new position./.