Head coach Park Hang-seo

Joining Park Hang-seo on the prestigious list are five other coaches from the Asian region.

Since becoming manager of Vietnam’s national football team, U23 football team, and the national Olympic squad in October 2017, Park Hang-seo has led the country’s teams to new heights.

Following his work in the Republic of Korea with respected Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, he developed a reputation for his tactical skills and an ability to deploy his players wisely on the field.

He has led Vietnam to a number of achievements, such as runners-up spot in the AFC Cup 2018, a Top 4 finish in ASIAD, and the winners of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.

Along with Park Hang-seo’s nomination, Vietnamese forward Nguyen Quang Hai of Hanoi FC has been listed in the Best Player in Southeast Asia category, while defender Doan Van Hau of SC Heerenveen has been nominated for the title of Best Young Player in Southeast Asia.

During the 2017 version of the AFF Awards 2017, the Vietnam Football Federation was honoured with the title of Member Association of the Year. In addition, manager Mai Duc Chung was declared Coach of the Year in the women’s football category after leading the women’s national team to victory in the fifth SEA Games.

Defender Doan Van Hau who played for the U19, U20, and U22 squads in the same year received the Young Player of the Year award.

National squad re-convene for November’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers

Coach Park Hang-seo’s side will play two home games at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium, hosting the UAE and Thailand on November 14 and 19, respectively.

Vietnam are level with Thailand at the top of Group G of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Joint-Qualifiers second round with seven points, only ranked second to their regional arch rivals due to goal difference.

The next two matches are important for Park and his players as they must face the two toughest opponents in the group. The results of these two games will directly lay impacts on Vietnam’s goal of progressing into the final qualification round.

Therefore, on Thursday, the Korean strategist decided to summon 27 players for the team’s most focused training camp this year, with the first 13 squad members being present at La Thanh Hotel in Hanoi on Monday afternoon.

The remaining players, including Hanoi and Quang Nam FC’s men, will gather with the squad after the two teams play in the National Cup final on October 31, while Thanh Hoa FC’s defender Le Van Dai will also join his teammates later following the V.League 1 relegation play-off match against the second tier’s side, Pho Hien FC, later today.

For the trio playing abroad, Muangthong United’s goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is expected to return to Vietnam soon as the Thai League 1 wrapped up last weekend, while Belgian Sint-Truidense’s striker Nguyen Cong Phuong and Dutch SC Heerenveen’s defender Doan Van Hau are only allowed to return to their home country 48 hours prior to Vietnam’s next game against UAE on November 14, according to FIFA rules.

Compared with the previous training camps, this time Park and his players have more time – about two weeks – to prepare for the next important matches at My Dinh Stadium.

Meanwhile, the U22 squad also started gathering on the same day as the senior team to prepare for their 2019 Southeast Asian Games campaign in the Philippines later next month.

It is expected that both teams will have their first training sessions today under the direction of coach Park.

VOV/Nhan Dan/VNN