Ho Chi Minh City Club says goodbye to coach Phung Thanh Phuong, chooses Spanish coach

Coach Phung Thanh Phuong ended his many-year relationship with Ho Chi Minh City Club because he did not have enough qualifications, forcing the 'Red Battleship' to turn to a Spanish coach.

Coach Phung Thanh Phuong has left his mark at Ho Chi Minh City Club.

Photo: Kha Hoa

Coach Phung Thanh Phuong says goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City Club

V-League will have a breakthrough from the 2025 - 2026 season when head coaches of V-League clubs are required to have a Pro AFC certificate. This will cause many "captains" to have to adjust their work. Most recently, coach Phung Thanh Phuong said goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City Club.

Mr. Phuong is a long-time veteran of Ho Chi Minh City Club, working as an assistant when the "Red Battleship" was still playing in the first division, staying there for many years - there was a period working at Saigon FC to support his special brother Hoang Van Phuc - until becoming the head coach of Ho Chi Minh City Club from 2023.

Over the past time, the former star of the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club (1997 - 2004) has proven his leadership skills by helping the city team successfully stay in the league despite facing common financial stress.

A dispute between Thanh Long (27, Ho Chi Minh City Club) and Dinh Tien ( Ha Tinh Club)

Photo: Ngoc Linh

In the 2024-2025 V-League, Coach Phung Thanh Phuong helped the "Red Battleship" with a popular squad successfully stay in the league. He is a rare coach of Ho Chi Minh City football to leave his mark in the V-League this season, when Coach Le Huynh Duc left Binh Duong Club, Coach Minh Chien put out a fire and was relegated with Binh Dinh Club, and Coach Nguyen Viet Thang played in the national first division (helping Ninh Binh Club get promoted).

However, the fact that V-League will have to comply with VPF's licensing requirements will force coach Phung Thanh Phuong to say goodbye to Ho Chi Minh City Club due to the lack of a mandatory Pro AFC certificate for head coaches.

Ho Chi Minh City Club targets Spanish coach

In fact, Ho Chi Minh City FC also targeted a domestic coach for the position of captain in the V-League next season. However, personnel difficulties forced the team's leadership to turn to the idea of ​​using a foreign coach.

Coach Phung Thanh Phuong has united Ho Chi Minh City Club into a unified bloc.

Photo: Kha Hoa

According to Thanh Nien Newspaper's investigation, the "Red Battleship" seems to have chosen a Spanish coach with guaranteed qualifications and practical experience, to help the team move towards a more technical attacking style of play that attracts more audiences.

For his part, Coach Phung Thanh Phuong said: "My top priority is to rest and spend time with my family. I want to recharge my family energy after a long time being caught up in the V-League's rhythm.

Of course, when the Pro AFC class is reopened by VFF and AFC, I will register to study to grasp the new trends of football as well as meet the new degree requirements of V-League. Even though I am on leave, I will still follow and support Ho Chi Minh City Club as a sincere fan."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/clb-tphcm-chia-tay-hlv-phung-thanh-phuong-cham-hlv-tay-ban-nha-185250701092556262.htm