Coach Park Hang-seo dedicates AFF Cup win to Vietnamese fans

"I am very happy. This championship has been amazing. This is our best performance yet in the two months leading to the AFF Cup this year," Park said at a press conference after the Vietnam v. Malaysia final played at the My Dinh National Stadium on December 15.

"I would like to thank everyone in the coaching team, our players and our fans as well, who have cheered for us so much today. I would like to dedicate this championship to all our Vietnamese fans," he said.

Malaysian coach Tan Cheng Hoe said after the tournament: "Vietnam was so good in this year's AFF Cup." He said he hoped that Vietnam could continue producing similar performances in future tournaments.

"I would like to congratulate Vietnam and its national team. They deserved it," he said.

Vietnam made history Saturday night when it defeated Malaysia with a 3-2 aggregate in the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup. The first leg of the final, played at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia on December 11, ended in a 2-2 tie, giving Vietnam the advantage of having scored two away goals.

The second leg ended with a 1-0 win for Vietnam, the goal scored by forward Nguyen Anh Duc.

"I highly value Anh Duc’s performance today. But the win was achieved by the whole team, by all 23 players, not by any single individual," Park said.

Ever since his arrival on Vietnam’s football scene over a year ago, Park has made an indelible mark. He led the country’s U23 men’s team into the final of the U23 AFC Championship last January, and the national Olympic team to the semifinals of ASIAD 2018 last August.

But it is Saturday`s AFF Cup championship that is possibly the most memorable moments in Park’s career.

"Right now, I really like my job here in Vietnam. To live and train with the players here is one of the best moments of my life. But the moment me and my players lifted the AFF Cup is certainly the most impressive one so far," Park said.