Thịnh "the Black" is back.

(Baonghean) - After more than a year of absence, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh recently "reappeared" as the coach of the U11 team at the Song Lam academy. Many Nghe An fans are delighted because, in their eyes, Thinh "the Black" is still a name that has a special connection with Song Lam's youth football. He is none other than the one who has helped countless unknown players become big names in Vietnamese football, such as Minh Duc, Van Quyen, and Nhu Thuat…

In 2000, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh was appointed by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) as the head coach of the Vietnam U16 team to participate in the Asian Championship. As the host nation, and aiming to learn from the strong opponents, under the leadership of Coach Thinh, the Vietnam U16 team created a sensation. Overcoming many strong opponents such as China, the Vietnam U16 team excellently secured 4th place overall. That tournament also officially introduced promising young talents such as Minh Duc, Nhu Thuat, Van Quyen, Anh Cuong, Lam Tan…

Coach Nguyen Van Thinh has been associated with many ups and downs for SLNA.

Following his success with the Vietnam U16 team at that tournament, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh was highly regarded and subsequently invited by the VFF to coach many youth teams participating in international competitions. At SLNA, after a major overhaul in 2004, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh was entrusted with the position of head coach of the first team. This was a period when SLNA faced many difficulties, with internal problems and the constant threat of talent loss, but with his abilities, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh gradually led the team through these challenges. In 2009, with a team mainly composed of young players and facing financial hardship, Nguyen Van Thinh's SLNA still excellently secured third place overall.

In the 2010 season, due to changes in the system, especially the investment of Bac A Bank in SLNA, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh had to accept giving up the head coach position to Huu Thang. There were many sensitive reasons, but Thinh understood and willingly returned to his familiar role as a youth coach. In the following years, in addition to coaching youth teams, Coach Nguyen Van Thinh also acted as an ambassador, providing professional assistance to several teams in the V.League and First Division.

He previously worked as an assistant coach in Hai Phong, then coached teams like V. Ninh Binh and Can Tho. However, partly due to his personality and his views on the concept of "permanent employment" at SLNA, after a while, Nguyen Van Thinh packed his bags and returned to Nghe An. It wasn't until the end of 2012, when QNK.Quang Nam approached him to be the "architect," building the team from the ground up, that he definitively left SLNA to focus on his work with the Quang Nam team.

However, man proposes, God disposes. In Quang Nam, after a short time, Thinh "the Black" had disagreements with the locals about how to develop football. Conflicts arose, and with his strong sense of self-respect, Mr. Thinh resigned even though the development of football in the area was still unfinished.

Having left the civil service, Mr. Thinh was unemployed upon his return to Nghe An. For over a year, he lived in seclusion, both to spend time with his family and to avoid the scrutiny of public opinion. However, for someone whose blood and flesh were intertwined with football, staying away from it for so long was impossible. When the Song Lam academy opened its summer classes recently, putting aside his ego, Mr. Thinh accepted the offer to return to teach at the Song Lam academy for a salary of 90,000 VND per day.

Later, due to his talent and contributions, the leaders of the Nghe An team approached him to return and coach the U11 team of SLNA. After some consideration, Thinh "the Black" accepted the offer and returned to his old team after nearly two years away.

It's a pity for Nguyen Van Thinh because, ideally, a talented person like him should have a different position. But anyway, after so many hardships, he's now back working as a "talent nurturer" at the Song Lam "academy," and many are happy because young talents from Nghe An have a teacher who is both virtuous and visionary.

Text and photos:Vinh Liem