'Miracle' Park Hang-seo isn't finished yet

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'Miracle' Park Hang-seo isn't finished yet

Park Hang-seo talks to reporters at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Tuesday following his arrival in Korea. [NEWS1]

Park Hang-seo talks to reporters at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Tuesday following his arrival in Korea. [NEWS1]

 
Former Vietnamese national team manager Park Hang-seo says he intends to continue his managerial career for two or three more years, but not in Korea or Vietnam.  
 
Park, 64, returned to Korea on Tuesday and told reporters at a press conference held at Incheon International Airport in Incheon that he will take a managerial role if an offer comes from a country besides Korea and Vietnam.  
 
Park was in charge of the Vietnamese national team as well as its U-23 team for over five years, during which he won the AFF Suzuki Cup with the national team and two South Asian Games with the U-23 team.  
 
He proved his leadership even in his last year with the national team as he took the Southeast Asian side to the AFF Championship final in 2023, but lost the game 3-2 on aggregate.
 
“I coached 98 games as a manager for the Vietnamese national and U-23 team. I feel like I should have coached two more games and marked my 100th game,” Park said at the press conference. “I think I have the stamina to coach for two or three more years.
 
“If an opportunity comes, I will consider factors like the role and the location and try to give it one more shot.”  
 
Park took charge of the Vietnamese national and U-23 team in October 2017 and played his first international tournament with the U-23 team at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship in China.  
 
His international stage debut with the younger Vietnamese side proved to be successful, beating stronger teams like Australia, Iraq and Qatar before losing the final to Uzbekistan 2-1.
 
“Finishing as runners-up in the AFC U-23 Championship was the most memorable moment,” Park said on Tuesday. “The proper system was not in place, but we achieved an accomplishment despite the cold and different environment.” 
 
Park continued to display his class with the U-23 team as he took his side to the semifinals at the 2018 Asian Games for the first time since Vietnam became unified country.
 
The Vietnamese side clashed with Korea in that match and lost 3-1.
 
Park went on to lead the national team to the AFF Suzuki Cup victory in September 2018 with zero losses throughout the tournament, cementing his legend as a national hero in Vietnam.
 
Park maintained that success with the U-23 team, winning the South Asian Games twice in 2019 and 2021.  
 
Over five successful years with Vietnam, Park elevated Vietnamese football to a significantly higher level, lifting the country’s FIFA ranking from below 130 to the low 90s.  
 
Among the many honors he received, including being conferred as a member of the Vietnamese Friendship Order and receiving both third and second-class Vietnamese Labor Order honors, one of the ones that Park is most proud of is his receiving a lifetime ticket to fly on Korea-Vietnam routes operated by Vietnam Airlines last month
 
“I think it means I have a strong bond with the Vietnamese government,” Park said.  
 
Park returned to Vietnam on Thursday, although this time just as national hero, not national football team manager.  

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]
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