Coach Park Hang-seo during a training session in HCM City. He will step down when his contract expires next January. Photo courtesy of VFF

HÀ NỘI — After five years marked with success, coach Park Hang-seo and the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) have announced they will go their separate ways when their current contract expires next January.

The decision means the AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022 in December will be the last time the South Korean coach takes charge of the national team.

"I will always remember my five-year journey with the Việt Nam Football Federation," Park said in the VFF's press release.

"As head coach of the national team and the U23 squad, I have focused on every tournament. Whatever the result, I believe I have completed my tasks responsibly.

"My job has been made possible by the strong support from players, VFF leaders, staff, and Vietnamese people.

"It has been an interesting and memorable journey," Park said.

The 65-year-old coach thanked people for their love and support during his time in Việt Nam. Although he will leave his position, he plans to continue helping in the near future.  

Park Hang-seo on the sidelines of the SEA Games 31 in May. The South Korean led the side to back-to-back SEA Games gold medals. VNA/VNS Photo

Park said that ever since becoming national coach in 2017, he wanted to be a bridge between Việt Nam and South Korea in all fields of life, including football.

He will keep carrying out his duty and try harder to enhance the excellent friendship between the two countries.

While speaking to reporters in the past, Park said he considers Việt Nam his second home and plans to work in youth football after his retirement. 

Park said he is looking at options to carry out his youth football and community projects in Việt Nam.

The VFF sincerely thanked Park for his great efforts and contributions to the national football team since 2017. 

Park showed high responsibility, profession and devotion. He pushed the national side to a new level and created inspiration for Việt Nam to aim even higher in the future. 

In his last event, the AFF Cup 2022, VFF hopes Park will guide the side to a strong result, marking a beautiful end to his time with the national team.

VFF sent their best wishes to Park and his family and believes the two will remain close partnerships in the development of Vietnamese football.

Park first came to Việt Nam in October 2017, renewing his contract with the VFF in 2019 and 2021.

In the five years under his leadership, Việt Nam has reached historic milestones and become a well-respected team across Asia.

The U23s secured silver at the Asian Championship in 2018 in China before finishing fourth in the Asian Games in 2018 in Indonesia. They won the historic SEA Games title in 2019 in the Philippines and successfully defended it this May.

Vietnamese players toss head coach Park Hang-seo in the air after winning the 31st SEA Games title in May in Hà Nội. VNA/VNS Photo

The national team won the AFF Suzuki Cup in 2018 and, as a result, advanced to the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in 2019. 

However, the most notable accolade in Park's time with Việt Nam has to be reaching the last qualification round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Under Park, Việt Nam have maintained their top position in ASEAN and set a record of spending the longest time in the world's top 100 for a Southeast Asian team.

Victories over Singapore and India in a friendly tournament last month helped Việt Nam climb to No 96 with 1,226.65 in FIFA's world football ranking update.

In a speech on the day he signed his first contract with the VFF in 2017, Park promised to put Việt Nam firmly in the world's top 100. To his credit, the team have now spent 1,419 days there since November 19, 2018. VNS