Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga (right) presents the insignia to coach Park Hang-seo. Photo: Thu Ha

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), presented an insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” to Park Hang-seo, former head coach of the Vietnamese national football team, at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 9, VNA reported.

It is the VUFO’s most noble distinction honouring Park's significant contributions to the Vietnamese football and the friendly and cooperative relations between the people of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Speaking at the event, Nga said the bilateral ties have become a successful model based on political trust, vibrant economic cooperation, and a close attachment in people-to-people exchanges. She attributed that to the important contributions of people’s organizations and individuals from both countries, including Park.

As the head coach of the Vietnamese national football team from 2017 to 2022, Park trained and improved the talent of players, helping them gain confidence and bring glory to Vietnam at regional and international tournaments, including winning the 2018 AFF Cup championship, two gold medals in men's football at the 30th SEA Games in 2019 and the 31st SEA Games in 2021, becoming the second runner-up at the 2018 U23 Asian Cup, securing the fourth place at the 2018 ASIAD, entering the quarter-finals of the 2019 ASEAN Cup, and for the first time advancing to the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He has truly become a close friend of the Vietnamese people not just through football. The Vietnamese people always remember his care and attention to the health of the players, his active participation in charitable and humanitarian activities, his support for Covid-19 prevention and control efforts, and aid to people in the flood-stricken central region, and disadvantaged children, Nga affirmed.

Nga wished that in the near future, Park would continue making worthy contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK.

Park Hang-seo signs autographs for fans at the ceremony. Photo: Thu Ha

According to Park, this is a deeply meaningful event to further tighten the friendship between Vietnam and the RoK.

When accepting the role of head coach of the Vietnam national football team, he just thought that all the jobs come from the love of football and also the duty to perform. Receiving the insignia "For peace and friendship among nations", he was very honored and proud.

"Every time I receive such awards, I once again look at myself. I accept this insignia with the meaning that I will work harder for the relationship between Vietnam - Korea and will do my best to deserve the award," he said.

Park came to Vietnam by chance, thanks to his wife's suggestion and support. He intended to work in Southeast Asia and contacted the agent Lee Dong-jun in 2016, but it was not until a year later when the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) opened a search for the head coach that Lee put forward Park.

Coach Park Hang-seo helps Vietnam win the gold medal in the men's football at SEA Games 31. Photo: VietnamPlus

Park said that at first, he was a bit reserved because he didn't know anything about Southeast Asian football and thought he would start at the club level.

Park's ensure started with a 0-0 draw with Afghanistan in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifying round at the My Dinh National Stadium on November 14, 2017, a month after officially signing the contract with the VFF.

Since then, Park has coached 98 matches with Vietnamese teams, including 57 wins (55.8 %).

More importantly, Park brought the Vietnamese football position to a new level in regional, continental, and international events, setting a Southeast Asian record of five consecutive years in the world's top 100.

The departure of Park caused regret for many people, although all understood that it would open new opportunities for the national teams and Vietnamese football.

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