Thanh Hoa, May 17, 2025 – After a 1-2 defeat to Hai Phong in Round 23 of the 2024-2025 V.League on the evening of May 16, coach Tomislav Steinbruckner offered his resignation just two months into his tenure.
This marks Thanh Hoa’s fourth consecutive loss, following previous defeats to Da Nang (0-1), Ho Chi Minh FC, and Nam Dinh (both 1-2). The poor run has dropped Thanh Hoa to seventh place, significantly dimming their chances of competing for a medal.
“First of all, I want to apologize to Thanh Hoa’s fans. They supported us, but we lost again — the fourth straight loss. I will discuss with the club’s CEO to terminate my contract immediately,” Steinbruckner said at the post-match press conference after losing to Hai Phong.
Born in 1966 in Croatia, Steinbruckner began his coaching career in 2001 as an assistant at NK Osijek and with Croatia’s U19 national team. In 2019, he became head coach of Bijelo Brdo in the Croatian second division, managing the club for three seasons.
In 2022, he moved to Southeast Asia, initially working as a technical director before being appointed head coach of Terengganu FC (Malaysia), a position he held until October 2024. During his time there, the club finished as runners-up in both the 2023 Malaysia FA Cup and Malaysia Super Cup.
Steinbruckner took over Thanh Hoa on March 24, following the departure of coach Popov. At the time, Thanh Hoa had 26 points and were in fourth place. However, under Steinbruckner’s leadership, the team won only one match, drew one, and lost five out of seven games, dropping to seventh place with 30 points.
As of now, Thanh Hoa’s management has not made an official decision regarding the Croatian coach’s resignation request.
At Lach Tray Stadium on May 16, Thanh Hoa performed poorly, conceding two goals in the first half. Despite pulling one back through Ribamar in the 67th minute, they couldn’t find an equalizer and left empty-handed.
“Before the first goal, in the first 30 minutes, we had several chances to score but failed to convert. After conceding twice, we tried to recover but did not do well enough. I take full responsibility for the results of the last four matches. I will talk to the club to decide what’s best for the team,” Steinbruckner added, reaffirming his intent to resign.
Earlier this season, Thanh Hoa were flying high under coach Popov, frequently topping the V.League standings in 2024. However, entering 2025, they suffered a steep drop in form, going winless in 10 consecutive matches across the V.League, National Cup, and the AFC Champions League Two, leading to Popov’s dismissal. Assistant coach Mai Xuan Hop served as interim manager before Steinbruckner’s appointment, but the team’s performance has yet to improve.
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