Korean coaches duke it out in Southeast Asia

Vietnam's head coach Park Hang-seo / Yonhap

By John Duerden

Southeast Asia has been a fascinating soccer battleground in recent weeks and there has been plenty of Korean influence there. The AFF Championships is the region's biennial tournament and a big deal with around 650 million people, many of whom love the beautiful game.

Of the 10 teams that started in December in two groups of five, four teams made it to the semifinal. Three of those have well-known Korean coaches at the helm.

Shin Tae-yong led the Korean national team at the 2018 World Cup and won the 2010 Asian Champions League title with Seongnam FC. He is now in charge of Indonesia. The former tough-tackling midfielder has already taken the world's fourth-most-populous country to the 2023 Asian Cup and that appearance will be the first since 2007. Indonesia has, however, never been crowned champion of Southeast Asia.

Shin was unable to change all that. The Red and Whites finished second in Group A and progressed to the last four. In the semifinal, however, Indonesia was defeated by Vietnam, two years after losing to Thailand in the final. There has been criticism in the country. "Shin Tae-yong came to Indonesia as a world-class coach of the 2018 World Cup.,” leading newspaper Bola said. “However, his career was ruined by losing to Vietnam and Thailand in two AFF Cups where it was difficult to help Indonesia compete with these two strong opponents.”

Past coaches have been fired for less though the federation has intimated that Shin is safe at least until May when he takes charge of the U-20 team for the U-20 World Cup which is being hosted in Indonesia.

Malaysia also fell at the semifinal stage. Led by Kim Pan-gon, the Tigers got past rivals Singapore in the group stage, winning 4-1, but Thailand was just a little too good. Kim has done some good work in Malaysia, taking the team to the Asian Cup for the first time since 2007. A former coach of Hong Kong, Kim, who came in early last year, has brought good results and a more proactive and aggressive style of play. It is a case of so far, so good.

Kim may be early in his tenure but the same can't be said of the granddaddy of Korean coaches in Southeast Asia. Park Hang-seo took over Vietnam in 2017 and is stepping down at the end of this tournament. It could be a victorious end as the Golden Stars take on Thailand in the final.

Park has revitalized Vietnam, turning a talented but underachieving team into one that is harder to beat, hard-working and disciplined. There have been many highs including the 2018 AFF title, reaching the final of the 2018 U-23 Asian Cup and then making the final 12 of qualification for the 2022 World Cup. He is still a hero in the country and it is almost easier to list what “Uncle Park” does not advertise but it is probably time for a new coach to take the team to the next level.

His exploits will never be forgotten, not least by the millions of fans who took to the streets of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to watch and then celebrate the many successes. He has also caused the Korean media to take a lot more interest than usual in Southeast Asian soccer. Kim and Shin will ensure that the attention keeps coming.