After a 10-match winless streak, Thanh Hoa and coach Velizar Popov have officially parted ways after nearly three years together.
The Round of 16 match in the 2024/25 National Cup against Hai Phong was of great importance to Thanh Hoa. As the defending champions of the tournament, the team was eager to secure a victory to set the foundation for their title defense. However, despite playing at home, Thanh Hoa suffered a 0-1 defeat to Hai Phong. This marked their 10th consecutive match across all competitions without a win (seven draws, three losses). The winless streak began in 2025 during their clash against Pathum United in the 2024/25 Southeast Asian Club Championship.
Since then, Thanh Hoa has struggled significantly, managing to score only six goals in 10 matches. They were eliminated from the Southeast Asian Club Championship in the group stage and then suffered an early exit from the National Cup. In the V.League, Thanh Hoa has dropped to third place in the standings. The two competitions where the club had high ambitions ended in early disappointment. In the V.League, Thanh Hoa was held to draws or even defeated by lower-ranked teams such as Quang Nam, Ho Chi Minh FC, and Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Their fixture list appeared favorable, with multiple matches against weaker opponents, yet they consistently dropped points.
There are several reasons behind Thanh Hoa’s decline, one of which is the loss of unpredictability in their style of play. Coach Popov relied heavily on a core group of 11-13 players with minimal squad rotation, leading to fatigue among key players and a drop in performance. Notably, against weaker teams, Thanh Hoa often struggled in attack and found it difficult to score.
Popov joined Thanh Hoa in 2022 and helped the team win two National Cup titles. Initially, he successfully established a defined playing style for the team. However, over time, opponents figured out his tactical approach, including high pressing, which made it easier to counter Thanh Hoa’s strategies. This season, their style of play has become predictable, allowing even weaker teams to neutralize them effectively. Scoring only five goals in their last nine matches is a telling statistic, demonstrating how opponents have successfully adapted to Thanh Hoa under Popov.
Parting ways with Coach Popov was a difficult decision for Thanh Hoa’s management. However, to prevent the winless streak from worsening and affecting the team’s long-term ambitions, the club felt compelled to take action.
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