Former Vietnam coach Park to manage another team before retirement

Park has not coached another team since he left Vietnam national football team in January 2023. He has been linked to coaching jobs in India, Southeast Asian countries, Vietnamese clubs and even as an interim manager of South Korea. However, the only job that Park has taken up so far is being an advisor for Bac Ninh FC in the second division of Vietnamese football.

“This will be the last stop in his coaching career,” a source told South Korean newspaper News1, adding that in addition to salary and other benefits, Park is trying to make a choice that is “meaningful”.

In late June, Park was announced by Times of India as one of 291 coaches who had applied for the head coach position of the Indian national football team. However, the South Korean coach said he had never submitted an application, although he considered India a potential destination. In the end, India appointed Spanish coach Manolo Marquez.

In mid-July, DJ Management, the company that represents Park, said that the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) had contacted him to manage their national football team.

“In addition to Cambodia, we received many offers like with India,” DJ Management told Yonhap News. “We haven’t decided yet and we are still considering.”

Park’s team told VnExpress the reason he contacted India was that South Korean coaches have not been recognized in South Asian and West Asian countries. If successful, he will open another path for his successors in South Korea, similar to what he did in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Cambodian football has a slower development than other countries in the region. Therefore, developing the football scene here is also a meaningful job for Park.

Park was an assistant to legendary coach Guus Hiddink when South Korea reached the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup. But he is more famous for his achievements with Vietnamese football from 2017 to 2023, including second place in the U23 Asian Cup, the 2018 AFF Cup title, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup, entering the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup for the first time and winning gold medals at two SEA Games. In addition, Park also helped Vietnam maintain a position in the top 100 of FIFA world ranking and top Southeast Asia during his tenure.

Park’s success in Vietnam opened the door for more South Korean coaches in Southeast Asia. Indonesia are in the fifth year of success with coach Shin Tae-yong. Coach Kim Pan-gon also made his mark in Malaysia, from 2022 to 2024, before returning to South Korea to manage Ulsan Hyundai.

Laos recently appointed South Korean coach Ha Hyeok-jun. Ha also shares the same agency as coach Park.

In May 2024, Vietnam chose Kim Sang-sik to manage the national and U23 team, after parting ways with French coach Philippe Troussier. Previously, coach Gong Oh-kyun also had spells at U23 Vietnam and V. League club Cong An Ha Noi.