SHB.Da Nang: New stadium, new players, new goals

After coach Le Huynh Duc left Da Nang, people thought that Mr. Hien would promote one of the coaches: Dao Quang Hung - Huynh Duc's assistant for nearly 10 years, or Phan Cong Thin - a veteran of Quang Nam football at one time; or Director of the Youth Training Center Van Sy Hung, a person that this bank owner trusted very much. But no, the person chosen was Minh Phuong, the person who had just failed to rescue Long An.

Start over

Minh Phuong, a coach without much experience or achievements, was chosen to work at Hoa Xuan Stadium because Mr. Hien wanted to rebuild the image of the team on the banks of the Han River, instead of making quick money like those other teams. In addition to taking charge of the first team, Minh Phuong also had to plan a youth training strategy, build an identity and a style of play that was typical of Da Nang.

Chairman of Da Nang People's Committee Huynh Duc Tho: "SHB.Da Nang's goal this season is to strive to successfully stay in the league." Photo: Dung Nguyen

Of course, the initial pressure for this young coach will not be high, Mr. Hien needs to restructure the team before thinking about achievements. More than 70 times wearing the national team jersey, in 8 years, and a whole life of a player without leaving any stain is the ticket for him to come to the largest city in the Central region to practice his profession.

Ending his career in SHB.Da Nang has helped the former national team captain understand more deeply about the people here. This allowed the new head coach Nguyen Minh Phuong to decide to change his entire working team at SHB Da Nang right after taking over the hot seat left by coach Le Huynh Duc.

Accordingly, the trio Vu Phong, Minh Dung and Viet Trung replaced goalkeeper coach Truong Van Loi, assistant Tran Van Tho and Tran Hai Lam in the coaching cabin.

Le Huynh Duc has done a lot for Da Nang, but the departure of Nguyen Sa, Quach Tan, Phuoc Vinh, Van Hoc, Hai Lam, and Quoc Anh has made him lose a lot of points.

There were matches where there were no Da Nang players left in the squad, which caused the famously enthusiastic fans to gradually disappear from the stands. For many years, the SHB.Da Nang youth teams were forgotten, so the supply of young players for the first team was almost non-existent.

Relegation target

In Minh Phuong's hands there are two brightest stars,The great striker Do Merlo is burdened by age while the U23 Vietnam player - Ha Duc Chinh lacks the necessary stability.

Saying goodbye to 2 foreign players, Minh Phuong brought in 1m88 tall Cameroonian center back Louis to strengthen the defense. Diogo - foreign player of B.Binh Duong will play alongside Do Merlo in the attack.

The most regrettable thing is that striker Wander Luiz, the Brazilian striker who worked under Minh Phuong in Long An last season, transferred to Quang Nam FC before his old coach took over at SHB Da Nang.

Coach Minh Phuong is expected to have a difficult season. Photo: Internet

In the defense, names like Lam Anh Quang, Bui Van Long, Phan Duy Lam, Vo Nhat Tan,… have been tested and will continue to be trusted by coach Nguyen Minh Phuong. Besides, young players like Thanh Thinh, Lieu Quang Vinh, Phan Van Bieu and Le Van Diep will be gradually put into testing.

The worry of Han River audience is that midfielder Dang Anh Tuan has been injured and will almost certainly be absent at the beginning.Former U23 Vietnam player Ho Ngoc Thang returned after a period of "disappearance" to Saigon FC and suddenly became a strong hope for a team with many changes this season.

With two domestic strikers Ha Duc Chinh and Phan Van Long and two foreign players Do Merlo and Diogo, coach Minh Phuong can play with many different formations such as 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. But playing with any formation, perhaps staying in the league successfully is a victory for the coach considered to be meticulous in Vietnamese football.