Coach Park Hang-seo considers the final step in his career before retiring
According to Korean media, Coach Park Hang-seo is carefully evaluating his next coaching opportunity before retiring from his illustrious career.
Since leaving the Vietnamese team in January 2023, Coach Park has not taken on a new role. He has been rumored to work in India, several Southeast Asian countries and even various Vietnamese clubs, as well as a temporary role with the Korean national team. Currently, Mr. Park’s only role is as an advisor to the Bac Ninh club in Vietnam’s Second Division.
Sources close to Coach Park revealed that he is meticulously considering his next move to ensure it has important significance. “This will likely be the final stop in his coaching career,” a source told News1, adding that Park is evaluating potential opportunities beyond salary and benefits, aiming to a meaningful challenge.
At the end of June, Coach Park was listed by the Times of India newspaper as one of 291 candidates for the position of coaching the Indian national team. However, there is information that Park only made preliminary contact and did not submit an official application. The Indian team has finally appointed Spanish coach Manolo Marquez.
By mid-July, DJ Management, representing Park, announced that the Cambodian Football Federation (FFC) had expressed interest in hiring him to coach their national team. “In addition to Cambodia, we have received various offers, including from India,” a company representative told Yonhap News. “We have not made a decision and are monitoring the situation.”
Park’s interest in India stemmed from the lack of recognition of Korean coaches in South Asia and West Asia. Success in this region could pave the way for future Korean coaches, similar to his impact in Southeast Asia. Cambodia, with its less developed football infrastructure, offers meaningful growth opportunities for the sport.
Coach Park, who worked as an assistant to legendary coach Guus Hiddink in Korea’s 2002 World Cup semi-finals, has made a big splash thanks to his achievements with Vietnamese football from 2017 to 2023. His notable achievements include reaching the final of the U23 Asian Championship. Champion, AFF Cup 2018 champion, Asian Cup 2019 quarterfinalist, World Cup 2022 qualifying round 3 and gold medalist at SEA Games 2019 and 2021. , Vietnam continuously entered the top 100 FIFA and led the East South Asia.
Coach Park’s success in Vietnam has opened the door for other Korean coaches in Southeast Asia. Shin Tae-yong has thrived in Indonesia for 5 years, while Kim Pan-gon made his mark in Malaysia from 2022 to July 2024, before returning to Korea to coach Ulsan Hyundai. The previous K-League 1 champion parted ways with Hong Myung-bo, who took on the role of the Korean national team.
Recently, Laos appointed Ha Hyeok-jun, who is represented by the same agency as Coach Park. In Vietnam, Kim Sang-sik was appointed to lead both the national team and U23 in May 2024, after the departure of French coach Philippe Troussier. Previously, Gong Oh-kyun led the Vietnamese team at the 2022 Asian U23 Championship and had a short time working with the Hanoi Police Club at the end of 2023. Chung Hae-seong also spent 3 years playing for HAGL and TP. HCM before returning to Korea to compete. Working with the Football Association.
