SLNA - Hai Phong: The 'homecoming' day for Pham Manh Hung

In fact, last season, Pham Manh Hung also had the opportunity to return to Vinh Stadium wearing the SHB Da Nang jersey. However, in the match betweenSLNA and SHB Da NangIn round 14 of the V.League 2019, the central defender born in 1993 was not included in the squad list of the Song Han team by coach Le Huynh Duc.

Pham Manh Hung (number 3) is playing quite impressively for Hai Phong. Photo: VPF

In contrast to his situation at SHB Da Nang in the past, Pham Manh Hung is currently one of the most important pillars of Hai Phong.

According to statistics, atV.League 2020, former central defenderSLNAHe played in 13 out of 14 matches, totaling 1,167 minutes. The only match in which Pham Manh Hung had to sit out was Hai Phong's 0-4 defeat against Viettel on July 11th (due to suspension).

It's clear that in recent seasons, Pham Manh Hung has never had such a high frequency of matches and such consistent performance as he is currently achieving for the Hai Phong team. It's no exaggeration to say that Pham Manh Hung and Nguyen Van Toan are the two defenders who have given the Hai Phong coaching staff the most confidence and satisfaction so far.

Initially, Pham Manh Hung was deployed as a left-back. However, after the crushing 0-5 defeat against B.Binh Duong in Round 4 of the V.League 2020, the Hai Phong coaching staff decided to move Hung to play as a central defender. In his preferred position, Pham Manh Hung has made a significant contribution to the defense of the team at Lach Tray Stadium.

Coach Pham Anh Tuan (in orange shirt) is the one who helped Pham Manh Hung "revive" his career. Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy.

Pham Manh Hung's increasingly solid performances have forced Vietnamese-German center-back Adriano Schmidt to warm the bench, and naturalized center-back Hoang Vissai to pack his bags and move to Quang Nam to seek new opportunities. It's no coincidence that in some matches, the Hai Phong coaching staff have entrusted Pham Manh Hung with the captain's armband.

Witnessing the fierce and precise tackles of the center-back wearing jersey number 3, the majority of experts and football fans in Vietnam were surprised. This is because the name Pham Manh Hung had at one point fallen into oblivion after a forgettable period at SLNA and SHB Da Nang. Many even included the 27-year-old player in the list of "short-lived talents of SLNA".

There's a saying: "After the rain comes sunshine." Pham Manh Hung's efforts and the trust of the Hai Phong coaching staff have finally paid off. Hung's impressive comeback cannot be mentioned without acknowledging the role of head coach Pham Anh Tuan. Few understand Pham Manh Hung better than Coach Tuan "Thao." Thanks to him, Pham Manh Hung has rediscovered himself.

Speaking about his fellow countryman, head coach Pham Anh Tuan said: "He not only plays well on the field, but is also very conscientious in his daily life and dedicated in training. Compared to previous seasons, I see Hung playing more consistently, making fewer elementary mistakes. In particular, he continues to demonstrate the qualities of a true leader by doing a good job commanding the defense."

It is highly likely that Pham Manh Hung will be used by coach Pham Anh Tuan in the away match against Hai Phong.SLNAThe match will take place at Vinh Stadium on the afternoon of October 16th. This is a great opportunity for the player from Thai Hoa town to prove his abilities in front of his hometown fans. Simply put, Pham Manh Hung is very different now; he is no longer the "erratic" Pham Manh Hung of the past.

Hopefully, Pham Manh Hung will not disappoint his fans.