Coach Huynh Quoc Anh directs Binh Phuoc FC in their victory against Long An at the end of the season - Photo: NK
When Huynh Quoc Anh took over as coach of Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc FC from Nguyen Anh Duc in the middle of the season, the "2012 Vietnamese Golden Ball" winner probably never imagined he would one day find himself in such a difficult situation.
"The outstanding stunt double"
With ambitions for promotion, Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc FC (Binh Phuoc) invested heavily in its squad to perform well in the 2024-2025 First Division League. Former football star Nguyen Anh Duc led the team. However, after a 0-1 home defeat against title contender Phu Dong Ninh Binh in Round 9, head coach Nguyen Anh Duc voluntarily resigned to help the team achieve better results. In his final match as coach, Anh Duc led Binh Phuoc FC to a 2-2 draw against PVF-CAND.
At that time, head coach Nguyen Anh Duc had a Japanese assistant. However, former football star Huynh Quoc Anh was trusted by both the management and the players to be the head coach, despite the 40-year-old's complete lack of experience coaching in the First Division.
When Quốc Anh was loaned to Bình Phước FC fromSHB Đà Nẵng FC, he was only working with the youth team. But Quốc Anh did very well in his new role. In 10 matches as coach, he led Bình Phước FC to 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss. This included a decisive 3-0 victory against Long An at home in the final round to secure the runner-up position, just one point ahead of PVF-CAND, thus earning a spot in the play-off match.
Under coach Quoc Anh, Binh Phuoc FC played better offensively and scored more goals than in the previous 10 matches. Attacking players like Cong Phuong and Luu Tu Nhan performed outstandingly, bringing in important victories. Luu Tu Nhan scored 9 goals to win the "Top Scorer" title, while Cong Phuong also ranked second with 7 goals.
Goalkeeper Tan Truong in the Binh Phuoc jersey - Photo: TTO
An awkward confrontation
In fact, SHB Da Nang, after a long period at the bottom of the table, was the team predicted to be directly relegated, not Quy Nhon Binh Dinh (Binh Dinh). However, Binh Dinh's slump in the crucial stage created an opportunity for SHB Da Nang to rise and secure a play-off spot.
And this inadvertently puts Coach Quoc Anh in an awkward situation, caught between a team that is placing all its faith in him to win a historic promotion spot, and a team he is still under contract with.
The play-off spot for the second-to-last team in the V-League 2024-2025 will only be decided in the final round on June 22nd between SHB Da Nang and Quang Nam. Coach Quoc Anh chose to go to Pleiku to watch Quang Nam play against Hoang Anh Gia Lai to prepare for the play-off match.
Deep down, the young coach felt that playing against Quang Nam would be more manageable from a professional standpoint and wouldn't put him in a difficult position. But fate had other plans. Quang Nam FC avoided the play-offs thanks to a 3-3 equalizer in injury time.
On June 23rd, Coach Quoc Anh returned to Binh Phuoc from Pleiku. The team will travel to Ho Chi Minh City today (June 24th) to prepare for the most important match of the season. Coach Quoc Anh doesn't need to worry too much about the technical aspects of the game.
This is because, despite playing in the First Division, Binh Phuoc Club also has many stars or players with many years of experience in the V-League such as Cong Phuong, Sam Ngoc Duc, Phi Son, Ho Sy Giap, Huynh Tan Sinh, goalkeeper Tan Truong, Tong Anh Ti, Le Thanh Binh, Ho Tuan Tai, Hoang Duong... With this strength, they are not at all inferior to SHB Da Nang.
Professional football demands professional conduct. But internal conflict is inevitable for coach Quoc Anh. Leading Binh Phuoc FC to promotion would be a major milestone in his coaching career. However, it also means watching his hometown team get relegated. Well, he'll just have to give it his all, Quoc Anh.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuoc-doi-dau-kho-xu-cua-quoc-anh-20250624081443622.htm
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