Coach Park Hang-seo thanks his colleague Alex Polking for the farewell wishes…
In the middle of this month, two coaches Park Hang-seo and Alexandre Polking faced off when Vietnam and Thailand met in the final of the AFF Cup 2022. After the score 2-2 at My Dinh Stadium and 1-0 in Thammasat Stadium, the Thai team successfully defended the championship.
Meanwhile, the Vietnamese team is the runner-up, although the result is better than the tournament taking place at the end of 2021, it still does not fulfill the set goal of winning the championship. It is also the incomplete farewell of coach Park Hang-seo, when the contract with VFF ends at the end of January.
Mr. Park Hang-seo ended a successful 5-year period with Vietnamese football. According to many people, the Korean coach has left a special mark not only on Vietnamese football but also in Southeast Asia.
Coach Polking is one of those who have followed Park Hang-seo’s work from the early days of the 65-year-old strategist to Vietnam. From the position of an observer – while working at Bangkok United clubs in Thailand and Ho Chi Minh City, until confronting Mr. Park when he became the coach of the Thai national team as well as the U23 team. Thailand, Polking has a lot of respect for Park Hang-seo.
They have had confrontations, in which, Park Hang-seo won the final of the 31st SEA Games (with the U23 team), and Polking won 2 times in the AFF Cup (national team level). There are also times when they have a tense attitude, arguing in the media…
Even so, at the end of the battles, respect is still shown. On the Instagram page, the coach with two Brazilian and German citizenship gave Park Hang-seo a sweet farewell.
“Winning and losing are part of our work and our careers. But the legacy he left for Vietnamese football will forever be remembered. I love his passion, his feelings for football and have great respect. Wishing you all the best in your next challenge, Mr. Park. We will miss you!”.
Polking also attached a photo that recreated the famous image of the chess game between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
In response to that wish, coach Park Hang-seo also thanked for the love on his personal Facebook page.
“Thank you Mr. Mano Polking for such kind words to me. Congratulations to Thailand on winning the AFF Cup under his guidance. Really honored to compete and join hands to help develop Southeast Asian football. I also want to send him my best wishes.”