The story of coach Phung Thanh Phuong officially said goodbye to the club after the 2024/2025 season is a news that makes the hearts love the “red battleship” inevitably, but it is also an opportunity for fans to look back and appreciate what he has devoted – a hard journey but imbued with love and dedication at the 'Red Battleship'.
The journey of a city child
In the harsh flow of Vietnamese professional football, where the change is indispensable, Phung Thanh Phuong is a rare “specialty” of stability and loyalty. From a talented player, this Saigon military leader has been attached to Ho Chi Minh City football through many roles: from assistant to the burden of the responsibility of 'standing nose to bear the pole' at the team named Uncle Ho.
It can be said that after those years, he was the one who understood that the Saigon team was better than anyone, not only a tactical or human, but also the identity, culture and the concerns and secret difficulties that the unified home team was facing.
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Coach Phung Thanh Phuong broke up in Ho Chi Minh City Club after the 2024/2025 season. |
Whenever the Ho Chi Minh City Club falls into the whirlpool of the crisis – whether formal, financial or personnel, Phung Thanh Phuong is always the name mentioned as a final hope. He came to the role of “fire fighting”, without a complaint, without a luxurious demand.
It simply accepted the mission and quietly worked, hard to steer the boat called “Red Fly” to overcome the storm. That persistence and persistence has become a familiar image, a symbol of the spirit “because of the color of the flag” that not everyone has.
Looking back at the last 2024/2025 season, Ho Chi Minh City Club ended in 10th place with 28 points and only 3 play-offs than the play-off team, SHB Da Nang, 3 points. For many people, it may be an impressive ranking. But for those who follow the red shirt team, it is a great success, the most obvious evidence for coach Phung Thanh Phuong.
In the context of thin force, tight financial – the problems that have existed during the last two consecutive seasons, the fact that the Ho Chi Minh City Club is still relegation of V.League is not lucky, but this is the result of hard work and the talent of Mr. Phuong's 'manipulation'.
The military leader born in 1978 did not have expensive stars, not the leadership of the team supported abundant financial resources to recruit good players. Instead, he must “whether the rice grabs”, must optimize each individual and each position.
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Coach Phung Thanh Phuong |
And the tactical capacity of coach Phung Thanh Phuong has been clearly shown in the ability to “patch” and turn discrete pieces into a solidarity, resilient fighting team. He knows how to exploit the strengths of each player, arrange a reasonable team to maximize the effectiveness in practical conditions.
Because of that, in many matches, the Ho Chi Minh City Club players always play with a spirit of blood, brave, and determined to win valuable scores against strong opponents.
But more than the attempts on the pitch, the power of the Phung family strategist lies in the ability to “attain mind”. In extremely difficult times, when the risk of strike because of slow salaries, bonuses and fingers floating like a black cloud, coach Phung Thanh Phuong stood out, with his prestige and understanding, to stabilize the players.
He was not only a coach, but also a father, an older brother, a reliable companion. It is the collective cohesion, the ability to maintain the fighting spirit for young players in the context of being critical is a key factor to help the Ho Chi Minh City Club stand firm.
Coach Phung Thanh Phuong did not have to have a strong or shocking statement, but instead he chose to make a gentle and quiet job, taking action and results to prove everything.
A separation for personal responsibility and degree barrier
It can be said that the departure of coach Phung Thanh Phuong really leaves many regrets, especially when the Ho Chi Minh City Club is in need of stability and those who understand the local identity. However, the reason behind this breakup made us more respect him. It is not because of conflicts or disagreements, but because of the responsibility for the family and an objective barrier for qualifications.
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The element of a degree with the family story makes coach Phung Thanh Phuong leave the 'Red Flagal' |
The AFC tightened the rules of Pro coach from the 2025-2026 season with V.League clubs has become a big obstacle. Coach Phung Thanh Phuong missed this important course because he had to take time to take care of his relatives. This is an emotional decision, putting his family on his personal career, an action that shows his noble personality.
Although the Board of Directors of Ho Chi Minh City Club invited him to continue to be associated with the assistant, but with the desire to be devoted to the highest position and the desire to update the modern football trends, he decided to refuse.
“I want to take time to rest with my family after a long journey of stressful work. When VFF and AFC reopen the Pro class, I will register to study to update the modern football trend and be eligible to return to the V-League. I always hope that Ho Chi Minh City Club has developed sustainably, achieving many successes,” the sharing of coach Phung Thanh Phuong has encapsulated all.
It is not a permanent goodbye, but a meeting again, an affirmation of the passion for football and love with “Red Fly” remains intact.
Request a degree from the Asian Football Federation (AFC) forcing coach Phung Thanh Phuong to say goodbye to the Ho Chi Minh City Club after the 2024/25 season ended.
Football operates like that. In the coming time, Ho Chi Minh City Club will welcome a new leader with new ambitions. A new chapter will be opened with the unified team, but that will certainly not be able to overshadow the mark that coach Phung Thanh Phuong has left.
Because he is not only the leader of the team to overcome the storm, but also the fire of fire, preserving the fighting spirit for the young players, even in the harshest circumstances.
The decision of coach Phung Thanh Phuong's departure closed an important chapter in the history of Ho Chi Minh City Club. It is a challenging chapter, but also proud of loyalty, dedication and the ability to overcome difficulties.
Fans of “Red Fly” may be sad and regretful, but they will always remember Phung Thanh Phuong as a symbol of resilience and tireless love of football.
Hopefully, with the time of rest and the completion of a degree, we will soon see this talented “fire fighter” returning to the V.League grass, continue to devote to the development of home football. Thank you, Phung Thanh Phuong, for all!