With the million dollar club of advisor Park Hang-seo and the Quang Ninh team: The first division will be extremely interesting

Next season's first division will be worth watching as many ambitious teams join the competition, such as Quang Ninh Club or Bac Ninh Club.

Quang Ninh Club returns from the shock of dissolution

2021 witnessed an unforgettable tragedy for Quang Ninh football, when Than Quang Ninh Club stopped operating. Financial difficulties caused many players to be owed salaries, bonuses, contract fees and had to write letters, before deciding to strike mid-season.

"We need answers from the province and the club to know about our future. By the end of the week, we must speak up to create pressure to have a conversation and meet to understand the story behind it and where the team's future will go," midfielder Mac Hong Quan recalled Than Quang Ninh's crisis period.

Quang Ninh football has been reborn

PHOTO: QUANG NINH CLUB

Over a decade since its establishment, Than Quang Ninh Club has experienced many ups and downs, and it was not until 2014 that it was promoted to play in the V-League. Thanks to reasonable investment resources based on a team of "homegrown" players, combined with a generous identity and a strong fan base, Than Quang Ninh has affirmed its value by continuously being in the top half of the rankings. The team from the mining land won the National Cup and National Super Cup in 2016, and entered the top 3 of the V-League in 2019.

Right before the wage debt tragedy happened, Than Quang Ninh was still in the top 4. Many fans were surprised to learn that coach Phan Thanh Hung and his team played football for many months without pay, but still won regularly.

Than Quang Ninh Club ceased operations in 2021, when it was no longer able to pay player salaries and maintain operations. 30 players had their contracts terminated and transferred to new teams.

However, like the ups and downs of the past, Quang Ninh football has risen from the abyss. In mid-2024, Quang Ninh Club was established under the management of Quang Ninh Football Development Joint Stock Company, recognized by the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province as the representative of the province's flag and colors to rejoin the Vietnamese football system.

Then after 2 seasons, with experienced players like Van Hieu, Nhat Minh... Quang Ninh Club was promoted 2 levels to return to the first division.

The experience of veterans like Bui Van Hieu (middle) helped Quang Ninh Club get promoted 2 levels in 2 years.

PHOTO: QUANG NINH CLUB

Although not as glorious as Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh FC is also a notable name. The team, coached by Coach Park Hang-seo, missed out on promotion to the first division last season after losing to Ho Chi Minh City Youth FC 2-3 on penalties (2-2 draw in regular time).

However, when the number of promotion slots was expanded to 4 this season, Bac Ninh did not let the opportunity slip away again. Advisor Park's team won the promotion ticket 1 round early to appear in the first division for the first time.

Hot race

Until the 2024-2025 season, the first division was always considered unattractive, because each season there were only about 1 or 2 teams that were really "eager" to move up to the V-League.

The rest often play moderately, content with their lot, because even if they get promoted to V-League, it still won't be enough to cover the cost of up to 60-70 billion per year to maintain the team and strengthen the force.

However, the race between Ninh Binh, Binh Phuoc and PVF-CAND last season changed the experts' view of the first division.

With the presence of many national players and former national players such as Hoang Duc, Quoc Viet, Van Lam (Ninh Binh), Cong Phuong, Tan Truong, Tan Sinh, Tuan Tai (Binh Phuoc) and young players who used to play for U.23 Vietnam such as Thanh Nhan, Duc Phu of PVF-CAND, the quality of the tournament has increased.

Except for the superior title of Ninh Binh Club, the play-off spot is still a race until the last seconds between Binh Phuoc and PVF-CAND (the gap between the two teams is only 1 point).

Next season, when Bac Ninh and Quang Ninh are both ambitious teams with ideal squad depth, the first division will compete even more fiercely.

Bac Ninh Club no longer misses the opportunity to participate in the first division

PHOTO: BAC NINH CLUB

Bac Ninh Club "played big" by inviting Mr. Park Hang-seo to be an advisor, and showed ambition by being ready to part ways with coach Hoang Anh Tuan even though the ship had only slightly deviated.

Quang Ninh Club has always been a name with a rich tradition, and in order to avoid falling into the story of "Truong Ba's soul, butcher's skin", the team from the mining land will continue to call on former Than Quang Ninh players (or those trained in Quang Ninh) to return to contribute to their homeland.

If the first division improves, Vietnamese football will have a chance to be raised to a higher level.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-club-trieu-usd-cua-co-van-park-hang-seo-va-doi-quang-ninh-giai-hang-nhat-se-cuc-hay-185250618182209697.htm