Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem, a 'cold' and classy figure of Vietnamese football

While still in charge of Hanoi FC, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem had many star players at his disposal, supported by the capital city's management, and recruited a series of quality domestic and foreign players. Leading a club with such impressive squad depth as Hanoi FC meant the coach from Thanh Hoa didn't have to worry too much about player availability.

However, when he decided to take on the hot seat at Hai Phong , a team full of players who were still in the process of rediscovering themselves, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem faced much skepticism from both fans and experts regarding his efforts to help the port city team regain its former glory.

Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm's rarely smiling face

In response to those doubts, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm revived players who had fallen out of favor at HAGL, such as Châu Ngọc Quang and Triệu Việt Hưng, and helped Hải Huy regain his form after injury. Bùi Tiến Dụng also excelled under the 51-year-old coach's guidance. And in his first season with Hải Phòng, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm caused a shock by almost leading the team to the V-League 2021 title, losing to the champions Hà Nội FC by just 3 points.

In the 2023 season, Hai Phong did not achieve a very high ranking, finishing only in 6th place overall. However, to be fair, with the absence of players like Chau Ngoc Quang, Rimario, and Hoang Thai Binh , coach Chu Dinh Nghiem's performance with Hai Phong in the 2023 V-League can be considered acceptable.

The impact of the coach from Thanh Hoa province while leading Hai Phong team lies not only in the achievements, but also in his ability to revive unknown or past-his-prime players. Players born in 1997 and 1998 who participated in the U.20 World Cup, such as Luong Hoang Nam and Ho Minh Di, were given opportunities and conditions by Coach Nghiem to play well in the Hai Phong jersey.

Goalkeeper Dinh Trieu, who four years ago was an employee of an oil and gas company, is now the number one goalkeeper for Hai Phong and the second-choice goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team under coach Troussier. Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem deserves significant credit, as he discovered Dinh Trieu's talent in 2021 and subsequently gave the goalkeeper from Thai Binh province the opportunity to shine.

Other names like Nguyen Van Minh, Pham Trung Hieu, Hoang Thai Binh, Martin Lo, and especially Nguyen Huu Son were also revived by the 51-year-old coach. Trieu Viet Hung, after being mentored by Coach Nghiem, has now become a core member of the Vietnamese national team.

Entering the 2023-2024 season, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm's squad hasn't changed much. However, past talents of Vietnamese football such as Lê Tiến Anh and Nguyễn Trọng Đại have joined Hải Phòng FC as a way to revive their careers. And coach Chu Đình Nghiêm is expected to be the lifeline to help this duo regain their peak.

Although the V-League 2023-2024 has only just begun, coach Chu Đình Nghiêm has already instilled high expectations in the fans of the Hai Phong team. Besides their third-place position in this year's V-League after two rounds, Hai Phong is also currently leading their group in the AFC Cup and has a strong chance of advancing to the knockout stage. These are just the initial steps for Hai Phong this season, and we have every right to hope for a breakout season for the team from Lạch Tray Stadium.

Mr. Nghiem rarely showed any significant emotion during each match – apart from the grim expression on his face. He remained grim whether he lost or won. That's why he's called the "cold-blooded" figure of Vietnamese football. But he's also a truly world-class figure.

Source link