Director Park Hang-seo (63) will lead Vietnam to the final stage.
Coach Park’s Vietnam will participate in the ‘ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Electric Cup’, which opened on the 20th (Korean time). The tournament will be held in seven Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and the Philippines) until January 16 next year.
The AFF Cup, also called the 메이저놀이터 “World Cup of Southeast Asia,” is held every two years. A total of 10 countries will be divided into two groups to play the group stage, and the first and second place in each group will advance to the semifinals to decide the winner through a tournament. Vietnam is tied in Group B along with Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar and Laos.
Head coach Park Hang-seo leaves Vietnam after this tournament. Coach Park and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) decided not to extend the contract last October. It is a breakup after about 5 years since taking over as Vietnam coach in October 2017.
Coach Park Hang-seo and the AFF Cup have a deep relationship. In 2018, the year following his appointment, he participated in the Suzuki Cup and wrote the myth of ‘undefeated championship’. It was the first time in 10 years that Vietnam lifted the AFF Cup championship. ‘Park Hang-seo Magic’ was just the beginning. After that, he advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Federation (AFC) Asian Cup in 2019 and advanced to the Asian final qualifying round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, rewriting Vietnamese football history.
As much as it is regrettable to part with director Park Hang-seo, Vietnam hopes to reap the beauty of the end. Vietnamese media <Vietnam Express> said, “The AFF Cup is the last tournament coach Park leads Vietnam. If he lifts the championship cup, he will make another memorable milestone before he leaves.”
The first stage of coach Park Hang-seo’s ‘Last Magic’ will be held today (21st) at 9:30 pm at the Km16 National Stadium in the first group match against Laos.