Head coach Park Hang-seo (64) of the Vietnamese national soccer team’s ‘Last Dance’ now has only one final game left. Fans are interested in whether coach Park, who took the baton in 2017 and represented Vietnamese football, will be able to finish with a smile.
Vietnam, led by coach Park Hang-seo, will play the second leg of the 2022 Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Cup final against Thailand at 9:30 pm (Korean time) on the 16th. The Mitsubishi Cup is called the ‘Southeast Asia World Cup’.
In the first match held in Vietnam on the 13th, ‘Park Hang-Seo’ was unable to decide the match by 2-2 after a 4-goal battle. However, since away goals are applied, Thailand is in a somewhat advantageous position.
Coach Park Hang-seo, who took the baton of the Vietnamese national team in 2017, ends his 5-year partnership with the end of this tournament. Now, the second match of the Mitsumishi Cup final against Thailand is the last time we can see coach Park directing the players as the Vietnamese coach.
Coach Park has contributed a lot to Vietnamese football since his appointment. He wrote a success story by concurrently serving as the coach of not only the A team but also the under-23 (U23) national team.
Recently, Nuanpan Ramsam (57, female), the general manager of the Thai national soccer team, showed respect for the enemy coach Park. “I really respect coach Park Hang-seo,” said general manager Lam-Sam.
Furthermore, general manager Lam Sam said, “Vietnamese soccer has developed since the appointment of coach Park Hang-seo. Currently, there is a difference between Vietnam at 96th and Thailand at 111th in the world rankings. Vietnamese players are also actively advancing overseas.”
In fact, coach Park has achieved a lot of success after taking the baton.
In 2018, at the 스포츠토토 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under 23 (U23) Championship, he led the runner-up, the best ever, and caused the so-called ‘Park Hang-seo Magic’ sensation. Then, at the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games held in the same year, it led Vietnam to advance to the semifinals for the first time in its history.
The ‘Park Hang-seo craze’ became more and more intense, and in 2019, the Vietnamese national team helped lift the championship trophy in 60 years at the Southeast Asian Games (SEA). Director Park Hang-seo, who was recognized for his achievements, was also awarded the second-class Labor Medal by the Vietnamese government.
Coach Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam, which continued its momentum, achieved two consecutive victories at the SEA held in their home country in May 2020. The A team has also consistently performed well.
He was recognized for his leadership by winning the 2018 AFF Cup competition. Vietnam, which failed to reach the top in Southeast Asia due to Thailand, won its second championship in 10 years since 2008.