Park Hang-seo vows AFF Cup title for Vietnam ahead of departure

This is my last tournament for the Vietnam team, and like in previous tournaments we always aim for the highest results, Park told media workers at a press briefing in Hanoi on November 22.

Park is scheduled to end his extended contract in January 2023, and the Vietnam Football Federation announced in mid-October that both sides agreed to further extend the contract.

The Korean expert said he did not want his players to think too much about the termination of the contract, but to pay attention to the upcoming tournament.

Vietnam has just lost to Thailand, but that doesn’t mean the players are not determined and well prepared, said Park who encouraged the Vietnamese warriors to perform well as they do.

Over the past five years Park has carefully groomed the next generation of Vietnamese players by constantly calling up fresh faces. The rejuvenation of the team couldn’t have happened smoothly in a short time, he noted.

While calling up new players, apart from their capability, he has seen how they adapt to the style of the whole team as the head coach must calculate how to both achieve good results and satisfy fans, the chief coach shared.

On his official Facebook page on November 21 coach Park wrote a very long letter expressing his sincere gratitude to Vietnamese officials, football fans and journalists who he said have supported him over the past five years.

“Now is the time to set aside the emotions and stand firmly like Vietnamese warriors,” he wrote.

“I ask for your same interest and support for the Vietnam national football team for this upcoming competition,” coach Park added.

The 2022 AFF Cup is scheduled to take place from December 20 to January 15, 2023, gathering 10 teams in Southeast Asian region.

Vietnam are in Group B and will play Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Myanmar on December 21, December 27, December 30, and January 3, respectively.