Former Vietnamese assistant coach set to lead South Korean football team

Coach Choi Won-kwon is anticipated to make a swift comeback to coaching following his departure from Vietnam.

According to information from journalist Seo Ho-jeong, Choi Won-kwon, the former assistant coach of the Vietnam national team, is preparing to start a new chapter in his career in the K-League by joining Busan IPark as an assistant head coach.

After the season ended, Busan IPark restructured their coaching staff and spent considerable time searching for the right candidate for the assistant head coach role. Head coach Cho Sung-hwan chose Mr. Choi Won-kwon. This decision surprised many, as Choi had previously been head coach at Daegu and Thanh Hóa Club in Vietnam, so stepping down to an assistant role was seen as an unusual move.

Previously, Choi Won-kwon was also on the shortlist for a head coach position at another K-League club. However, after positive discussions and persuasion from coach Cho Sung-hwan, he decided to join Busan IPark as his next destination.

In addition to Choi Won-kwon, Busan IPark has strengthened their staff by adding goalkeeping coach Lee Yong-bal and fitness coach Park Sung-joon, completing the coaching team for the upcoming season.

Coach Choi Won-kwon's reputation in Vietnam was built while serving as a key assistant to head coach Kim Sang-sik of the Vietnam national team during the 2024 AFF Cup. In this role, Choi was responsible for critical tasks such as data collection, opponent analysis, tactical advice, and player selection, similar to the role Lee Young-jin had under coach Park Hang-seo.

Although rarely seen in the media, Choi’s behind-the-scenes contributions were vital in helping the team maintain stability, demonstrate resilience, and convincingly win the 2024 AFF Cup.

After his time with the Vietnam national team, Choi took a step forward by being appointed head coach of Thanh Hóa Club. However, a poor run of results with the Thanh Hóa team (1 win, 5 draws, 4 losses) led to his dismissal in November last year.