GUESS WHO'S BACK: HCM City FC have brought back their former coach Chung Hae-Seung. Photo bongda.com.vn

 HÀ NỘI – After sacking him as coach just weeks ago, HCM City FC have hired coach Chung Hae-seung again on a new contract. 

Yesterday morning, coach Chung and the owners of the HCM City FC met at the team headquarters to agree on a new contract. The Korean coach will return to the club from August 12.

Coach Chung offered his resignation after being asked to vacate the coach's position and become the technical director after a 3-0 loss to Hà Nội FC on July 24.

Since then HCM City FC tapped club president Nguyễn Hữu Thắng as their temporary coach. 

After Vũ Tiến Thành of Sài Gòn FC, Thắng became the second person in the V.League 1 to be both presisent and coach of a club this season.

HCM City FC were set to hire Brazilian coach Ailton dos Santos Silva, who led Chiangrai United FC to the Thai League 1 championship last year and was named the coach of the season.

Silva was expected to take up the position in this month, however, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the deal could not be completed because he reportedly had difficulties getting into Việt Nam.

This left the club to turn back to Chung.

Striker of Nguyễn Công Phượng and many of his teammates expressed dissatisfaction previously when the Korean coach resigned.

The Korean coach started coaching HCM City FC from the end of 2018 after he ended his contract with Hoàng Anh Gia Lai FC.

In the first season, he helped the club finish in second place. After the successful season, the club invested heavily in the transfer market by bringing in the likes of Nguyễn Công Phượng, Bùi Tiến Dũng and Võ Huy Toàn.

This season, the club has always been in the top five, but have struggled to establish a true playing identity, despite their talented squad.

V.League 1 play is currently postponed again due to the resurgence of the coronavirus, but the AFC Cup is expected to be played next month.

HCM City top Group F after three games and are scheduled to play three matches from September 23 to 29.

In the domestic league, City currently sit in fifth place with 17 points after 11 matches, six points behind leaders Sài Gòn FC. VNS