Behind the sensational transfers of Hanoi Police

However, before achieving their current success, they also faced some less-than-smooth business deals.

Having previously failed with Quang Hai, Filip Nguyen

Behind the high-profile transfers of Hanoi police officers.

Filip Nguyễn returned to Vietnam to play for Hanoi Police FC. Photo: CAHN FC

Unlike teams that have dominated the transfer market in the last 3-4 seasons, such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Dinh, or Nam Dinh , Hanoi Police has shown consistency in both V-League transfer windows.

While the first phase saw a major overhaul of the squad and a strengthening of quality players like Van Hau, Tan Tai, Van Thanh, and Van Duc, Hanoi Police recently made a series of "blockbuster" signings with two high-profile deals: Quang Hai and Filip Nguyen.

However, the signings, described as "invincible," made by Hanoi Police FC did not immediately bring success with Quang Hai or Filip Nguyen.

In fact, the police football team might not have been so active if those two star players had agreed to join them at the beginning of the season.

In fact, Hanoi Police FC had contacted both players before the V-League began. In Quang Hai's case, the police team worked directly with Pau FC, persuading them to release the midfielder born in 1997.

This is similar to what Ho Chi Minh City FC tried to achieve by negotiating with Sint Truidense FC (Belgium), with the help of HAGL, to bring Cong Phuong back to the V-League a few seasons ago.

However, Hanoi Police FC was unable to achieve its goal as desired. This was because, at that time, Quang Hai had also recently changed his agent.

And his European agent advised him to be patient with Pau FC, prioritizing waiting for signals from Western clubs rather than returning to the V-League.

Besides the failure in the Quang Hai transfer deal, Hanoi Police FC was also flatly rejected by another European club in their first offer of the first phase.

Specifically in the case of Slovacko. When the winter transfer window opened, equivalent to the pre-V-League 2023 transfer window, Hanoi Police made an offer to bring Filip Nguyen to Vietnam.

The Czech newspaper iSport revealed an interesting detail from a recent exclusive interview with Filip Nguyen: “The Hanoi Police offered Filip Nguyen 400,000 euros (over 10 billion VND), including agent commission. They were also willing to pay the contract termination fee between Slovacko and Filip Nguyen. But Slovacko flatly refused. The Czech team did not find the offer from the Vietnamese representative attractive.”

Unable to invite Polking, Park Hang Seo

But the offer from the Hanoi Police became a magnet attracting Filip Nguyen's attention. He told iSport journalist Michal Kosturik last April: "In the Czech Republic, I never received the kind of treatment the Hanoi Police offered."

This also motivated Filip Nguyen to pay more attention to Hanoi Police FC. Conversely, after two failed offers to players competing in Europe, the police team seemed to have gained more experience.

Then, when the second phase of the transfer market opened, Hanoi Police FC, with their efforts, perseverance, and more attractive offers, managed to secure Quang Hai and Filip Nguyen.

This further strengthens the squad for coach Flavio Da Silva, aiming for the V-League championship in their first year after promotion.

Going back a few months, Flavio Da Silva wasn't originally a choice that Hanoi Police FC was considering. At that time, there were constant reports in the press about two candidates named Lee Young-jin and Mano Polking.

In March 2023, representative Lee Dong-jun submitted a proposal to Hanoi Police FC suggesting that Coach Park Hang-seo take on the role of Technical Director, while Lee Young-jin would be appointed Head Coach.

Representatives of Hanoi Police FC confirmed the incident. Furthermore, the club even sent representatives from its management to work with agent Lee Dong-jun, aiming to better understand the proposals and plans that the South Korean side could implement if Park Hang-seo or Lee Young-jin were to lead the club.

Amidst the news surrounding Mr. Park and his assistant Lee – figures who helped the U23 and senior Vietnamese national teams achieve brilliant successes between 2018 and 2023 – a month later, the media and social networks unexpectedly reported that Coach Mano Polking was unhappy with his relationship with the Football Association of Thailand. The coach who led Thailand to victory in the 2020 and 2022 AFF Cups was then invited to coach Hanoi Police FC.

Coach Polking himself was vague about the possibility of returning to the V-League at that time. “The possibility of me joining Hanoi Police FC wouldn’t have arisen if the FAT had clarified the contract with me.”

"I may not be a perfect coach. However, I believe in my coaching style," Polking told a Thai newspaper.

A few days after Coach Polking's statement, Hanoi Police FC parted ways with four of the domestic assistants of their predecessor, Paulo Foiani. Some sources close to the team confirmed that Coach Polking would bring his own assistants to the club. Everything seemed to be settled.

But surprisingly, Polking changed his mind at the last minute. The coach, who has both Brazilian and German heritage, decided to sign a contract that runs until the end of 2023, focusing on leading the Thai national team in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

This came as a huge surprise to fans of the Hanoi Police Football Club. Just when it seemed the deal had gone through successfully, an unexpected turn of events occurred at the last minute.

Therefore, Hanoi Police is not necessarily a club that wins every battle in the transfer market.

Despite occasional setbacks in recruiting coaches or players, these very failures have led to crucial turning points for Hanoi Police FC. Coach Flavio is proving his Midas touch, guiding the team to 5 wins and 1 draw in the recent V-League 2023 season. Hanoi Police FC has risen from a mid-table position to first place, paving the way for them to win the championship this season.

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