Newly appointed head coach Mano Polking has expressed confidence in building a ball-control and attacking style of play for Hanoi Police FC with the ultimate goal of winning the V.League 1 title.
On May 24, Polking signed a contract to lead Hanoi Police FC, and just two days later, he was seen in the stands as his new team lost 1-2 to The Cong at the 21st round of V.League 1-2023/2024. His official debut will be on May 30 in an away match against Ha Tinh.
Before departing for the match, the German-born coach stated, “I prefer a ball-control, game-control style of play. With the current squad at Hanoi Police FC, I believe I can establish this approach. I have a clear plan, which is to bring Hanoi Police FC back to the top of the league and become champions.”
Despite being the reigning champions, Hanoi Police FC faces a tough challenge this season. After 21 matches, they sit in sixth place with 31 points, trailing leaders Nam Dinh by 11 points, with only five rounds remaining in the season.
According to the club, Polking’s contract is for a “minimum of two years.” However, whether he can complete the full term remains uncertain, as Hanoi Police FC is known for frequently changing head coaches, having made five changes in the past year and a half. Previous head coaches, including Paulo Foiani, Flavio Cruz, Gong Oh-kyun, and Kiatisuk Senamuang, all lasted less than four months. Technical Director Tran Tien Dai has stepped in as interim head coach three times, with the most recent stint resulting in three consecutive losses that effectively ended the club’s title hopes.
Nevertheless, Polking remains confident, particularly given the potential of Hanoi Police FC’s players, many of whom are Vietnamese internationals he has faced while coaching Thailand. “Hanoi Police FC are the defending V.League 1 champions. This provides favorable conditions for any coach, having talented and hardworking players in the squad,” he noted.
Polking is no stranger to V.League 1, having coached Ho Chi Minh City FC in 2021. Before the season was canceled due to COVID-19, the team faced relegation threats, leading to a mutual decision to part ways. Polking was then appointed head coach of Thailand on a four-month contract, replacing Akira Nishino.
Under his leadership, Thailand defeated Vietnam in the semifinals and Indonesia in the final to win the AFF Cup 2020. This success earned him a contract extension. During the 31st SEA Games in May 2022, Polking led Thailand to the final, where they lost to host Vietnam. However, he later guided Thailand to victory over Vietnam in the AFF Cup 2022 final, securing the title.
Despite these achievements, Polking was dismissed by the Thai Football Association following poor results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Now, he looks forward to a fresh start with Hanoi Police FC and aims to steer them back to the top of Vietnamese football.
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