Coach Park Hang-seo captured cheerfully after bidding farewell to national team

Korean coach Park Hang-seo did not shy away from the media's cameras at the draw ceremony of the final round of the national students' football championship 2022 in Hanoi on October 18. After five years of working as the head coach of the national men's football team of Vietnam, with many successes, the Korean coach will say goodbye to the squad on January 31, 2023. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced on October 17 that it and Park had agreed to end their contract next January. It means that the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 in December 2022 will be the last time the Korean coach takes charge of the national team. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In the VFF's press release, Park said: "I will always remember my five-year journey with the Vietnam Football Federation. As head coach of the national team and the U23 squad, I have focused on every tournament. Whatever the result, I believe I have completed my tasks responsibly. My job has been made possible by the strong support from players, VFF leaders, staff, and Vietnamese people. It has been an interesting and memorable journey." The 65-year-old coach also thanked the Vietnamese people for their love and support during his time in the Southeast Asian country. Although he will leave his position, he plans to continue helping in the future. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Park's presence at the draw ceremony on October 18 attracted attention from media outlets and fans. He said that since becoming the national football team's coach in 2017, he wanted to bridge Vietnam and the Republic of Korea in all fields of life, including football. He will keep carrying out his duty and try harder to enhance the excellent friendship between the two countries. While speaking to reporters in the past, Park said he considers Vietnam his second home and plans to work in youth football after his retirement. The coach said he is looking at options for his youth football and community projects in Vietnam. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Coach Park Hang-seo and Nguyen Thanh De, Director of the Department of Physical Training at the Ministry of Education and Training, posed for a photo at the draw ceremony of the final round of the national students' football championship in Hanoi on October 18. After the two sides agreed to end their contract, the Vietnam Football Federation sincerely thanked Park for his great efforts and contributions to the national football team since 2017. According to the Vietnam Football Federation, Park showed high responsibility, professionalism and devotion. He pushed the national side to a new level and inspired Vietnam to aim even higher in the future. The VFF sent its best wishes to Park and his family and believed the two sides would continue a close partnership in the development of Vietnamese football. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The presence of coach Park Hang-seo at the draw ceremony on October 18 showed his support for football development movements at schools across the country. Park first came to Vietnam in October 2017, renewing his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation in 2019 and 2021. In the five years under his leadership, Vietnam has reached historic milestones and become a well-respected team across Asia. The U23s secured silver at the Asian Championship in 2018 in China before finishing fourth in the Asian Games in 2018 in Indonesia. They won the historic SEA Games title in 2019 in the Philippines and successfully defended it this May. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

In the past, Park had also had various activities involved in amateur football when he did not have to gather with the national team. He plans to open a training centre for young footballers when he ends his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation. Under the guidance of the Korean coach, the national team of Vietnam won the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2018 and, as a result, advanced to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in 2019. However, the most notable accolade in Park's time with Vietnam has to be reaching the last qualification round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. (Photo: Organiser)

The 65-year-old coach witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Public Sports Development Company Limited (Usports), aiming to organise and develop football for students in the 2022-2026 period. Thanks to Park's instructions, Vietnam have maintained their top position in Southeast Asia and set a record of spending the longest time in the world's top 100 for a Southeast Asian team. Victories over Singapore and India in a friendly tournament last month helped Vietnam climb to No 96 with 1,226.65 in FIFA's world football ranking update. In a speech on the day he signed his first contract with the VFF in 2017, Park promised to put Vietnam firmly in the world's top 100. To his credit, the team have now spent 1,419 days there since November 19, 2018. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Speaking at the draw ceremony on October 18, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Ngo Thi Minh said the national students' football championship is part of an overall project on developing the physical strength and stature of Vietnamese people in the 2011-2030 period and an overall project on developing physical training and sports at schools in the 2016-2020 period, with a vision to 2025 under the Prime Minister's decisions. In Park's last event, the AFF Cup 2022, the Vietnam Football Federation hopes Park will guide the side to a strong result, marking a beautiful end to his time with the national team. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

The final round of the national students' football championship 2022 is scheduled to take place at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) from October 26 to November 6, 2022. The 16 best teams from the northern, central and southern regions will be divided into four groups. The final round will have a total of 32 matches. All 32 matches of the final round of the national students' championship 2022 will be updated on the YouTube platform of Usports and the digital channel On Sports of Vietnam Cable Television. The total cash prize of the tournament is 386 million VND (more than 15,500 USD). (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Coach Park Hang-seo's presence at the draw ceremony of the final round of the national students' football championship 2022 demonstrated his support for football development at schools in Vietnam. Park said his five years accompanying Vietnam's football was a memorable and enjoyable journey. According to the Korean coach, regardless of the result, he has been able to fulfil his duties and responsibilities thanks to the continuous support from the players, leaders and staff of the VFF as well as the people of Vietnam. He pledged to continue his mission as a bridge for the Vietnam-Republic of Korea ties in all aspects, including football. (Photo: VietnamPlus)