After leaving the Vietnam national team, a South Korean coach becomes an assistant for Mr. Park

Ex-Vietnam national team assistant Lee Jung Soo is set to become the right-hand man for coach Park Hang Seo, remaining with Kanchanaburi.

Coach Park Hang-seo has officially returned to the coaching bench after accepting an offer to lead Kanchanaburi FC. This is seen as a notable turning point for the South Korean tactician, who has not directly managed a team for over three years since his departure from the Vietnam national team. Earlier, multiple sources in Thailand revealed that Kanchanaburi pursued Park with the ambition of quickly returning to the Thai League after a disappointing recent season.

However, Park cannot immediately take over the new club. He currently retains his role as Vice President of the Korea Football Association (KFA), overseeing national teams, and will accompany the South Korean squad to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Mexico in a supporting capacity. Therefore, it will not be until the end of July that the 1957-born coach officially begins his work at Kanchanaburi.

While waiting for Park to join the squad, the Thai club will be temporarily led by assistant Lee Jung Soo. This name is quite familiar to Vietnamese football fans, as he previously worked in the coaching staff of coach Kim Sang-sik with the national team. Lee Jung Soo is highly regarded for his ability to organize training, build discipline, and provide tactical support, especially during the period of squad transition under Kim.

After leaving the Vietnam national team, Lee Jung Soo took on a challenging task at Kanchanaburi. He was appointed head coach when only three rounds remained in the season, with the club in a form crisis and hovering near the relegation zone. Despite his efforts, the former South Korean center-back could not prevent the club from staying in the Thai League. Kanchanaburi was subsequently relegated and had to embark on a comprehensive rebuilding plan for the new season.

Remarkably, after the club was relegated, Lee Jung Soo did not leave the club but accepted a step back to become an assistant, supporting coach Park Hang-seo's project. This decision shows that the Kanchanaburi leadership wants to build a model with a strong South Korean imprint, based on discipline and fighting spirit. The club is reportedly ready to invest heavily in order to quickly earn a return to the top flight of Thai football.

The arrival of Park Hang-seo has also drawn special attention from Thai football. In the past, he repeatedly troubled Thai national teams during his tenure with Vietnam. Therefore, this tactician working in the Thai League is considered a major event for regional football. Fans are waiting to see whether "Teacher Park" can replicate his familiar success and help Kanchanaburi return to the Thai League quickly.