Thanh Hoa parted ways with coach Choi Won Kwon after the 90+10 minute.
After the 90+10 minute match against HAGL, Thanh Hoa terminated the contract with coach Choi Won Kwon. The team is only 1 point ahead of Da Nang; Mai Xuan Hop is in charge temporarily, and Ribamar is likely to leave the team.
In the 90+10th minute against HAGL, a victory that seemed within reach turned into a draw. A few hours later, Thanh Hoa FC announced the termination of coach Choi Won Kwon's contract. The decision comes amidst the team's decline in form at the start of the 2025/26 V.League season, currently only one point ahead of bottom-placed Da Nang.
The 90+10 moment and its consequences.
HAGL's 90+10th-minute equalizer not only cost them two points but also capped off a series of disappointing results. Thanh Hoa continued their downward spiral in the standings, finding themselves in a precarious situation with only a one-point gap separating them from the bottom of the table. This late slip-up became the catalyst for a change on the coaching bench.
The playing style hasn't improved, and there are limitations in terms of squad strength.
Taking over the team with high expectations, coach Choi Won Kwon soon faced difficulties in improving both the team's playing style and morale. He repeatedly admitted that the team lacked the financial resources to turn things around. Limitations in personnel, especially in the attacking line, led to decreased efficiency and declining results over time.
The case of Lucas Ribamar
Along with a change in head coach, Thanh Hoa is reportedly preparing to offload striker Lucas Ribamar. The player scored 12 goals last season, but has suffered a serious decline in form this season due to a prolonged injury.
Coach Choi Won Kwon's profile and initial expectations.
Born in 1981, coach Choi Won Kwon arrived at Thanh Hoa with considerable experience. He was a key assistant to coach Kim Sang Sik in Vietnam's ASEAN Cup 2024 victory and also possesses coaching experience in K.League 1 with Daegu FC. Prior to that, his playing career gave him experience at the South Korean national team level and at the 2004 Athens Olympics, building great confidence upon his arrival in the V.League. However, personnel difficulties and the current context have prevented expectations from being translated into results.
Interim coaching staff and reconstruction plan
While searching for a new head coach, assistant coach Mai Xuan Hop will temporarily lead the team. The nearly three-month break from the V.League is a crucial period for Thanh Hoa to review their squad, address personnel bottlenecks, and redefine their playing style for the key phase of the season.
Termination of coach Choi Won Kwon's contract is a drastic but necessary step in the current circumstances. With a narrow lead at the bottom of the table and a sufficiently long break for adjustments, Thanh Hoa has a chance to rebuild — provided they solve their squad problems and restore their fighting spirit in a timely manner.
