Park Hang Seo declines Southeast Asian coaching offers to avoid facing Vietnam

Former Vietnam national team head coach Park Hang Seo has revealed that he declined multiple offers to lead other national teams in Southeast Asia to avoid competing against Vietnam. In an interview with the South Korean YouTube channel Footballist, Park stated that the thought of facing Vietnam as an opponent was “terrible” due to the deep affection he received from Vietnamese fans.

Park noted that after leaving his position with the Vietnam team, he received various proposals from Southeast Asian federations, professional Korean clubs, and roles ranging from head coach to general manager or president. After discussing with his wife, he decided against coaching any other Southeast Asian national team to honor his connection to the country.

Beyond his professional decisions, Park continues to show a strong affinity for Vietnamese culture and cuisine. He has frequently shared his appreciation for local dishes such as bún chả cá (fish cake noodle soup), hủ tiếu mực (squid noodle soup), bún chả, and phở bò on social media, highlighting his fondness for the flavors and ingredients of the region.