V.League 2020 and the unique stories

1. President and Head Coach

Chairman and Head Coach Vu Tien Thanh. Photo: Saigon Football Club

Right after the 0-0 draw with SLNA in the opening round of the first phase of V.League 2020, head coach Hoang Van Phuc decided to part ways with Saigon FC. The main reason why the former head coach of Quang Nam had to leave Thong Nhat Stadium was due to disagreements with the leadership of this team.

Instead of appointing another strategist to sit in the "hot seat" of Saigon FC, Chairman Vu Tien Thanh "volunteered" to go to the pitch to direct the players, with the title of head coach. A very rare thing in professional football.

2. Technical Director and Goalkeeper Coach

Technical Director Nguyen Duc Thang. Photo courtesy of Xuan Thuy

At the end of the 2019 season, Coach Nguyen Duc Thang asked to withdraw from the position of "captain" of SLNA after 3 seasons of steering, and was approved by the Board of Directors of the Nghe An team. Mr. Nguyen Duc Thang's new title at SLNA in the 2020 season is Technical Director.

However, because the SLNA coaching staff did not have a goalkeeper coach, the strategist born in 1976 had to directly participate in the training sessions of the group Nguyen Van Hoang - Le Van Hung - Tran Van Tien.

3. Massive "migration" at Saigon Club

Up to now, the list of players and coaches who have to leave Saigon FC has reached nearly 20 people. In addition to assistant coach Nguyen Tuan Phong, the Thong Nhat Stadium team has also said goodbye to Nguyen Quoc Long, Nguyen Ngoc Duy, Pedro Paulo, Geovane Magno, Ahn Byung-keon...

Perhaps, in the history of world football up to now, there has never been a case as strange as Saigon FC. People only see mass "migration" in teams that have been relegated, but have never seen the same thing in a team that has just competed for the championship. Even Quang Nam is not like that.

4. Give up the goal of competing for the championship to help the opponent stay in the league

Nghiem Xuan Tu (number 20) in Hai Phong shirt. Photo: VPF

The 2-0 victory over SLNA in the 11th round of phase 1 helped Than Quang Ninh officially enter the group of 8 teams competing for the championship in phase 2 of V.League 2020. Ignoring the expectations of football fans in the Mining land, the Board of Directors of Than Quang Ninh decided to support Hai Phong with the trio Mac Hong Quan - Nghiem Xuan Tu - Diego Fagan.

Thanks to the help of the neighboring team, Hai Phong successfully stayed in the league, even 1 round early. Meanwhile, without Mac Hong Quan, Nghiem Xuan Tu and Diego Fagan, coach Phan Thanh Hung and his team only finished in 4th place and did not complete the goal set at the beginning of the season./.