Coach Popov: Walking the only path
The 1-1 draw against Ha Tinh FC in Round 10 of the V-League 2024-2025 has put pressure on Thanh Hoa FC, coached by Velizar Popov, as their rivals are breathing down their necks.
However, let's look at the bigger picture. Given the demanding schedule of matches from the V-League to the Southeast Asian Championship (15 matches since the start of the tournament, at least 3 or 4 more than other teams), what have Coach Popov and his team achieved? They've maintained their top position in the V-League, still have a chance to advance in the Southeast Asian Championship, and are on a 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions.
Thanh Hoa Club is very resilient.
Thanh Hoa FC achieved this despite having gone through a period without their main striker Rimario Gordon, with more than half of their squad changed compared to the previous season, and the pressure to succeed was obviously greater. It's impossible to know where Thanh Hoa FC will go this season, as with a thin squad, it will be very difficult for Coach Popov's team to compete in the V-League. In fact, in the last two seasons, the team from Thanh Hoa often played very well in the first half of the season, but ran out of steam in the second half. Nevertheless, it must be acknowledged that Coach Popov is very skilled.
He is not only talented at managing a limited transfer budget and player pool, but he also walks the talk. A boisterous strategist who often complains about everything from pitches and referees to match schedules (no other coach has received more yellow cards than Popov in the past two years), but he works with dedication and fights with all his heart. He is one of the few coaches in the V-League who commands respect from his players, and on that foundation, the Bulgarian coach has helped Thanh Hoa FC transform, becoming a team with a unique, scientific , and passionate playing philosophy, arguably the best in the league.
On his unique path at Thanh Hoa FC, Coach Popov is not the type to compromise. The former Myanmar U.23 coach subjected Thanh Hoa to a rigorous physical training regimen, because for a team with more modest strength, the only way to win is to compete more intensely and run more.
Coach Popov had a strong personality.
The player who embodies that genuine and unpretentious fighting spirit of Thanh Hoa FC is Doan Ngoc Tan. After playing a tough match against Thailand in the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final with the Vietnamese national team, Ngoc Tan only needed two more days of rest before Thanh Hoa drew with the strong Thai team BG Pathum, which included Chanathip Songkrasin. In the V-League, where teams are increasingly "saturated" in terms of playing philosophy or building success on a foundation of money, having a team with its own unique character like Thanh Hoa under coach Popov is invaluable.
What about coach Polking?
Coach Polking shares many similarities with Popov: both previously worked in the Thai League, brought a European football philosophy (Polking is of German descent, while Popov is Bulgarian), and both have a proactive playing style. While Coach Popov prefers pressing and a direct, physical style of play, Polking favors ball control and dictating the tempo of the game with the highest possible level of initiative.
Fate also brought both of them the most suitable teams to implement their playing style. Coach Popov had to manage Thanh Hoa FC, a team that struggled to make ends meet each season, while Polking took charge of Hanoi Police FC, a club that had nothing but... stars.
Coach Polking is struggling.
The national team boasts quality players, top-tier foreign players, and even the best overseas Vietnamese. Coach Polking has plenty of raw materials to mold a captivating and attractive attacking style of play, just as he did with the Thai national team and Bangkok United in the past.
However, even now, Coach Polking's CAHN club is still struggling to find its footing. Sixth place isn't the issue, as the season is still long. But the draw against SLNA and a series of lackluster, disjointed matches before that raise the question for the German-born coach: how much time will it take for his philosophy to take shape? Coach Polking affirms that he has the trust of the club, but with significant investment in the squad, CAHN may not have to wait long.
Compared to Coach Popov, Coach Polking's path has been smoother. However, to make the same impact as his foreign counterpart, the former Thailand national team coach still has a lot of work to do!
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-popov-rat-li-cung-clb-thanh-hoa-con-ong-polking-van-cu-loay-hoay-18525012016423448.htm
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