Reuniting with his former team during a transitional period.
Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC recently held a ceremony to announce the appointment of Mr. Nguyen Cong Manh (born in 1982, from Nghe An province ) as Head Coach, replacing Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, who resigned after the 2024/2025 season.
Reportedly, after the season ended, coach Nguyen Thanh Cong – who had previously led Hong Linh Ha Tinh to a 5th-place finish with 36 points – submitted his resignation due to health reasons. Immediately afterwards, the Hong Linh Ha Tinh club management initiated negotiations and signed a contract with Mr. Nguyen Cong Manh – a familiar face to the team from the mountainous region.
Mr. Nguyen Cong Manh spent nearly four years with Hong Linh Ha Tinh (from 2019 to 2023) as an assistant to two head coaches, Pham Minh Duc and Nguyen Thanh Cong. During that time, he left his mark as a dedicated assistant, knowledgeable about the team's internal affairs, and highly regarded by experts for his expertise and tactical thinking.
In 2023, he temporarily left the team to pursue a professional coaching license. Afterward, he was invited to join the Vietnam U23 coaching staff as an assistant to head coach Hoang Anh Tuan. Last season, Mr. Manh tried his hand as head coach of Binh Duong FC but failed to make a significant impact, leaving after 12 matches in charge of the team at Go Dau Stadium.
Returning to Hong Linh Ha Tinh this time, Mr. Nguyen Cong Manh is expected to bring a breath of fresh air during a period when the team is experiencing many changes in its squad.
At the launch ceremony, Mr. Tran Quang Thuong – President of Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club – expressed his confidence: “The club's leadership hopes that Coach Nguyen Cong Manh will soon stabilize the team, complete the coaching staff, add necessary players, and develop a suitable training and competition plan for the new season.”
A career full of memorable moments.
Coach Nguyen Cong Manh rose through the ranks of the renowned Song Lam Nghe An youth academy, alongside familiar names such as Duong Hong Son, Phan Thanh Hoan, and Chu Ngoc Canh… While playing for the youth team, he won the U16 National Championship in 1998 and achieved a "hat-trick" of U21 National Championship titles in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
During his playing career, Nguyen Cong Manh's preferred position was attacking midfielder. With his skillful individual technique and creative playing style, he was likened to an "artist on the field," always creating spontaneous and captivating ball handling moments for the viewers.
During his playing career, Nguyen Cong Manh played for many big clubs such as Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA, in two periods), Hoa Phat Hanoi, Binh Dinh… Most memorable was winning the V.League 2011 championship with SLNA – the club where he left a deep and lasting impression.
After retiring from playing, he shifted his focus to coaching. Starting as an assistant coach at Hong Linh Ha Tinh in 2019, he gradually accumulated experience and proved his coaching abilities. Possessing a PRO coaching license and experience at both club and national youth team levels provides a solid foundation for Mr. Manh to continue conquering challenges in the demanding V.League environment.
However, the challenges facing coach Nguyen Cong Manh are considerable. Besides the pressure of succeeding a coach who has already made a significant impact, he also has to deal with a "brain drain" as a number of key players such as Luong Xuan Truong, Dang Van Tram, Lam Anh Quang, Tran Dinh Tien, Nguyen Van Nhuan, and Vu Viet Trieu left the team during the transfer window.
Rebuilding the squad, finding quality new players, and shaping a suitable playing style will be urgent tasks for the coach from Nghe An. His leadership, tactical thinking, and ability to inspire will be the decisive factors in the success or failure of his new journey with Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/hlv-nguyen-cong-manh-tai-ngo-va-thach-thuc-tai-nui-hong-149655.html
Comment (0)