THANH HÓA — Ljupko Petrovic's agent has denied reports his European Cup-winning client will return to Việt Nam to manage his former club Thanh Hóa FC.

The Serbian's agent Jernej Kamensek posted on his personal Facebook page that reports from several local media outlets that the former Red Star Belgrade manager would return to the country were unfounded.

“I think this is fake news. We all know Ljupko is currently a politician in Serbia and cannot take over a football club here. I also talked to him and he said that no one has contacted him," he told thethao247.vn.

“But Petrovic can still consider if Thanh Hóa sends an offer, but not at the present time” he added.

Yesterday, Thanh Hóa FC posted on Facebook that they had reached an agreement with the 73-year-old manager.

Petrovic is one of the most famous managers to have worked in Việt Nam. The 73-year-old started his coaching career in 1982 and has managed many famous clubs including Red Star Belgrade, Espanyol and Olympiakos.

He is considered one of the best managers in Thanh Hóa’s history and helped the team finish V.League 1 runners-up in 2017 – the best position in the club’s history.

However, because of a conflict with the club’s former president Nguyễn Văn Đệ, Petrovic left Thanh Hóa after the 2017 season.

Thanh Hóa have had three coaches in the past six months, namely Fabio Lopez, Nguyễn Thành Công and Mai Xuân Hợp.

Mai Xuân Hợp, born in Thanh Hóa, was expected to manage the club for a longer time as former president Nguyễn Văn Đệ said he would support a local manager.

But in November, due to health issues, Đệ decided to quit and transferred the president role to Cao Tiến Đoan – general director of Đông Á Group.

Thanh Hóa are currently undergoing a big transition and have signed strikers Chavaughn Walsh, Jose Pinto and two Vietnamese players, Lê Quốc Phương and Doãn Ngọc Tân.

Thanh Hóa were in the regelation zone most of last season, but under Nguyễn Thành Công’s management, they won four and drew two in eight matches to ensure safety. VNS