YOUNG " GENERAL" BREATHES RELIEF
Coach Le Duc Tuan is an unfamiliar choice for Hanoi FC in the 2024-2025 V-League, or at least with the team's habit of using players in the past 4 years. After unsuccessful adventures with foreign coaches such as Park Choong-kyun, Chun Jae-ho, Bozidar Bandovic or Daiki Iwamasa, the former V-League champion returns with an unknown domestic coach. Mr. Le Duc Tuan was the interim coach last season, but is generally known as a "deputy" (assistant), which has much less pressure than the head coach.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan helps Binh Duong Club take all 3 points at Thanh Hoa Stadium
Sharing with Thanh Nien , Chairman Do Vinh Quang of Hanoi Club explained the choice of Mr. Le Duc Tuan because of his understanding of the players and the culture of the team. "We prioritize finding the right person, rather than someone famous with a good CV," Mr. Quang affirmed. The most successful coach in the history of Hanoi Club, Mr. Chu Dinh Nghiem (3 times V-League champion), was also chosen with the criteria of understanding the team, because before taking the hot seat, Mr. Nghiem had never held power at any club. However, there are still concerns for Coach Le Duc Tuan, because V-League is not a good land for young "generals". 8 years ago, Hanoi Club also used a young coach, Coach Pham Minh Duc, but after only 5 rounds, Mr. Duc had to leave the game.
Coach Le Duc Tuan
PHOTO: MINH TU
The challenge for coach Le Duc Tuan is huge. Hanoi FC is in a transitional phase, when the main players are getting old; while the young players are only at the potential level, but still carry the responsibility of competing for the championship. However, the difficulties were temporarily overcome in the match against the reigning runner-up Binh Dinh on the evening of September 14. Facing a disciplined defense and a very good second line of the away team, Hanoi FC was stuck for most of the match, before finding 3 points thanks to a brilliant long-range shot by Nguyen Van Quyet.
The mark of the new “general” is not yet clear. However, the good news is that Hanoi FC still maintains the philosophy of control and proactive attack, operating smoothly thanks to the players who know each other’s playing style by heart. Although it takes time to shape the team, Coach Le Duc Tuan won the opening match to make the road ahead smoother and less stressful.
Joy after 10 years
Returning to the V-League after 10 years of adventure at the national team level, coach Hoang Anh Tuan immediately took on a "difficult task": leading Binh Duong Club, a team that only finished 9th last season and has had continuous changes in the upper echelons. Mr. Tuan himself was also doubted about his ability to succeed, because the V-League is very different from the youth league. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has a strong personality and is a strict manager. This is a style suitable for youth football, but top-level football is different, which requires the head coach to be more skillful and moderate.
However, the victory over Thanh Hoa showed that Mr. Tuan is doing well. Besides the 3 points, Binh Duong Club played cohesively, with clear intentions: defending with tight distances, organizing the ball quickly and having a "secret weapon" to break the opponent, with Nguyen Tien Linh's double header being an example. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's strength is the ability to build a tight and modern style of play, based on collective strength.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan
Although a single victory cannot predict the whole journey, Mr. Tuan needs an initial foundation to strengthen the players' confidence. With his "deputy" Jurgen Gede supporting him in the role of technical director, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has a strong arm to analyze opponents and stabilize the dressing room. In the next 4 rounds, the team from Thu Dau Mot will face very difficult teams, including Hai Phong, Hanoi Police, Ho Chi Minh City and The Cong Viettel. This series of tough matches will be a high-dose test to test the mettle of Hoang Anh Tuan's Binh Duong Club.
The remaining new “general” who enjoyed the joy was Mr. Le Quang Trai of HAGL. Last season, the head coach position belonged to Mr. Vu Tien Thanh, but because he also held the position of Director of HAGL Football Academy, he stepped back, leaving the head coach position to assistant Quang Trai.
Coach Quang Trai
Mr. Thanh once commented that assistant Quang Trai is very capable, capable of analyzing data and planning the playing style. The pre-season preparation of the duo Vu Tien Thanh - Le Quang Trai also improved when HAGL won the friendly tournament in Ho Chi Minh City, then beat Quang Nam 4-0 thanks to the young players' mark, as well as the smooth defensive counter-attacking style. HAGL is struggling with a limited source of players, along with an inexperienced coach. But who knows, in the midst of difficulties, both the teacher and the students will make a difference?
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