Thanh Hoa's Departure: An Epic of Survivors

Thanh Hoa Stadium this morning had no cheering, only the sound of studs scraping on dew-soaked grass. The departure ceremony of Thanh Hoa FC unfolded in an eerily quiet atmosphere—as if the entire team was still holding its breath after the shock of last season. Head coach Mai Xuan Hop stood in the center circle, speaking neither about tactics nor opponents. He said only one sentence: "We are still here." Three weeks of preparation delay, three weeks in which other teams had been running at full capacity, while Thanh Hoa was still fumbling to find itself after the ownership transition. I stood by the fence, watching familiar faces—Nguyen Thanh Diep still wearing the captain's armband, Le Van Thang with his calm smile. They said little, but their eyes said everything. This was not an ordinary departure ceremony. This was an oath. To understand why this departure carried such weight, one must look back at the long road the team from Thanh province has traveled. In the 2026-2026 season, Thanh Hoa FC nearly collapsed entirely. Dong A Thanh Hoa—the former owner—withdrew due to financial difficulties, leaving a massive wage debt to the players. The team was returned to the province, seemingly on the verge of dissolution. But then businessman Le Xuan Tuong and Thanh Hoa Football Development Joint Stock Company stepped in to rescue the club, mobilizing multiple sponsorship sources from partners. They retained the core squad: captain goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Diep, striker Le Van Thang, defender Luc Xuan Hung. They registered 30 players for the new season, including 4 foreign players (2 midfielders, 2 strikers) and 1 Vietnamese-origin Laotian player, Thongkhamsavath. But the story does not end there. Last season, Thanh Hoa survived relegation under the harshest conditions imaginable. With fewer than 18 players, they still earned 25 points after 26 rounds, finishing 11th in the 14-team table. That was a miracle of spirit, but also a reminder of the team's limits. When I reviewed their match footage from last season, I realized something: this team does not play with tactics; they play with willpower. Every touch of the ball carried the mark of survival. But willpower cannot replace fitness, and fitness cannot replace tactics. That is the puzzle Coach Mai Xuan Hop must solve in the new season. Looking at the registration list, a clear strategy emerges: strengthening midfield and attack. Two foreign midfielders, Abdurakhmanov and Lovric, and two foreign strikers, Matheus Monteiro Martins and Guindo—all aimed at creating creativity and goal-scoring ability. This shows that Coach Mai Xuan Hop understands his team cannot rely solely on defense. But the biggest question is not player quality; it is preparation time. Three weeks of delay is a serious tactical disadvantage. While other teams have had 6-8 weeks to build fitness and tactics, Thanh Hoa is just starting. This is especially dangerous with the opening match against Da Nang on September 6 approaching. Retaining Nguyen Thanh Diep—the captain goalkeeper—is a crucial decision. In a team that has just weathered a crisis, the goalkeeper is the most critical position. Diep is not just a shot-stopper; he is the voice in the dressing room, the firekeeper for his teammates. When I watched last season's matches, I noticed he frequently faced shots from every angle and made numerous saves. But more importantly, it is how he commands the defense. In a team lacking depth, a goalkeeper's leadership can make a huge difference. Le Van Thang—the main striker—is also irreplaceable. He is not the type of striker who scores many goals, but he has the ability to hold up the ball and create space for teammates. In a counter-attacking team, a striker who can hold the ball is invaluable. Luc Xuan Hung in defense also plays a vital role. The stability of this trio will be the foundation for the new season. As for the foreign players, Abdurakhmanov and Lovric in midfield will be key. They need to adapt quickly to Vietnamese football, where speed and intensity are crucial. Matheus Monteiro Martins and Guindo up front will bear the goal-scoring responsibility. But the question is whether they will have enough time to integrate with their teammates. Three weeks is too little for a new foreign player. Based on what I know about Coach Mai Xuan Hop, he is a pragmatist. He does not favor flashy play but prioritizes solidity. Last season, with a thin squad, he built a tight defensive system, waiting for counter-attacking opportunities. This season, with the addition of foreign players, he may adjust slightly, but the core philosophy remains safety. This means Thanh Hoa will not be an easy team to watch, but they will be a hard team to beat. However, there is a problem: if the team focuses too much on defense, they may struggle to score. Last season, they only earned 25 points, averaging less than 1 point per match. That shows their attack was very weak. Adding two foreign strikers is an attempt to solve this problem, but will they have enough time to integrate? That is a big question. I have followed many teams in similar situations. When a team goes through financial crisis, there are usually two reactions: either they collapse completely, or they become stronger through unity. Thanh Hoa belongs to the second type. But that unity can be a double-edged sword. When a team relies too much on spirit, they become vulnerable to opponents with better tactical discipline. V-League has no shortage of such teams. Cong An Ha Noi, Ha Noi FC, Nam Dinh—all have financial resources many times stronger than Thanh Hoa. To compete, Thanh Hoa needs something different. And that something could be patience. Another important detail is that Coach Mai Xuan Hop is registered as "Technical Director" rather than "Head Coach." This could be an internal arrangement, but it could also be a way to circumvent VFF coaching license regulations. If so, this is a potential governance weakness. But perhaps more interesting is how the team survived last season: with fewer than 18 players, they still earned 25 points and finished 11th/14. That shows extraordinary fighting spirit, but also serves as a warning—without significant squad reinforcement, the new season could be even harder. There is a counter-intuitive perspective I want to offer: Thanh Hoa's survival last season may not be as positive a sign as many think. When a team survives with so few players, it means they were lucky, or other teams performed worse. In a 14-team league, 25 points is usually very close to the danger zone. The gap to the relegation group could be just a few wins. This suggests Thanh Hoa's true level is at the bottom of the table, and survival was merely a postponement, not an improvement. Moreover, the 3-week preparation delay affects not only fitness but also tactical cohesion. New players need time to understand the coach's intentions, and old players need time to adapt to new teammates. Three weeks is too little. I have seen many teams start a season with inadequate preparation, and they often pay the price with early-season losses. Thanh Hoa may face the same. Thanh Hoa fans are among the most passionate supporter groups in Vietnam. They have watched their team go through ups and downs, and they have always been there. But their patience has limits. When the team is rescued by a new businessman, they will expect improvement. If the team continues to struggle, disappointment may turn into criticism. This puts pressure on the coach and players. I remember a match last season when Thanh Hoa lost late. The fans still stood, singing the team's traditional song. It was a touching moment. But I also know their patience is not infinite. If the new season starts with defeats, the atmosphere could become tense. V-League is becoming increasingly polarized. Teams with strong financial resources like Cong An Ha Noi, Ha Noi FC, and Nam Dinh are dominating. They can recruit the best players, have the best facilities, and enjoy managerial stability. Meanwhile, provincial teams like Thanh Hoa struggle to survive. This gap is widening, raising questions about the league's sustainability. But I believe football is not just about money. Spirit, cohesion, and smart tactics can create miracles. Thanh Hoa proved that last season. The question is whether they can do it again in a longer season with more pressure. Thanh Hoa is building a foundation for the future. They are committed to investing in youth training, which is crucial. If they can develop a generation of talented young players, they can create a steady supply for the first team. This will reduce their dependence on foreign players and expensive contracts. But that is a long process. In the short term, they need to survive. And to survive, they need a good start. The opening match against Da Nang on September 6 will be a critical test. If they can earn points in this match, they will gain the necessary confidence. If not, they may fall into a spiral of doubt. When I reviewed Thanh Hoa's footage from last season, I realized that each match had its own story. There were matches they won thanks to a moment of brilliance, and matches they lost due to a silly mistake. But they all shared one thing: they never gave up. Each recording is a small grave burying a match that time has rewritten. And for Thanh Hoa, those outcomes have created an epic of survival. Mistakes do not belong to the one who makes them, but to the rhythm that has been broken. In football, as in life, we sometimes make mistakes not because we are incompetent, but because we have lost the rhythm. Thanh Hoa lost their rhythm last season, but they found it again. And now, they are trying to keep that rhythm in a new season. When the stadium is silent, I hear the footsteps of history. Thanh Hoa is not just fighting to stay up; they are fighting to prove that provincial football can still exist in a league increasingly dominated by money. The question is not whether they can survive relegation, but whether they can build a sustainable foundation from the ashes of the past. The rhythm of a match does not lie in the feet, but in the words. And for Thanh Hoa, their story is still being written.