Coach Mai Duc Chung: 'Old general' devoted to writing history

After 40 years of dedication, Coach Mai Duc Chung officially said goodbye. It was a happy ending for a talented strategist who was always dedicated and kind to Vietnamese football.

In the annals of Vietnamese football, Mr. Mai Duc Chung certainly holds a very important position. First of all, he was the author of the opening goal in the "reunion match" between Saigon Port and the General Department of Railways in 1976, marking the reunion of football between the North and the South after the country was completely unified.

In the match that was distorted by many hostile forces with words like "bloodbath" or "blood and tears", 25,000 spectators packed Thong Nhat Stadium, even spilling out onto the runway.

Mr. Chung, a historical witness, recalled: "The reason why the General Department of Railways was chosen was for a special reason, because at that time it was very strong, second only to The Cong, had been runner-up many times and had just won the Northern Trade Union Championship.

Furthermore, sending a football team representing railway workers was even more meaningful and reasonable when the North-South railway was about to be inaugurated.

The feeling of going to the South to compete is hard to describe, there is both excitement, nervousness counting each day, but also anxiety. Before leaving, we were very excited because no one knew what Ho Chi Minh City was like and even less knew about football in the South, only hearing the names of "copper pillar" Tam Lang, "golden arrow" Tu Le...".

"Sunday, November 7, 1976 will forever go down in the history of national football as a milestone connecting the North and the South, connecting a long history," he emphasized.

Mr. Chung's voice choked up when he told about the moment the two teams stepped onto the field: "Players from both teams walked hand in hand from the tunnel to the thunderous applause of the audience, mixed with the lively singing of the song "Like having Uncle Ho on the great victory day" played from the loudspeaker and tears of happiness from the audience when witnessing the football festival of the two regions for the first time.

When we entered the field, everyone's eyes were red with emotion. To this day, I still cannot forget that historic moment, when referee Ho Thieu Quang blew the starting whistle...".

The match ended with a score of 2-0, but as Mr. Chung himself shared: "Neither we nor the audience cared about the goal and the Saigon Port team was not sad about the defeat because that day was a real festival at Thong Nhat Stadium and just being present in the atmosphere of that historic match was already a winner.

Many of us cried that day when we went out onto the field, thinking about how many people had died to have a historic football match between the two regions on the day the country was reunified...".

Also participating in the historic match and scoring the winning goal, the late coach Le Thuy Hai once emotionally shared: "All memories in life, everything has something memorable and something unforgettable. But for me, that historic match was truly memorable. Football is for people to come closer together.

I still remember clearly that at the end of the 90 minutes of the match, although the home team lost 0-2, the Southern audience was very happy. The lyrics of the song "Like having Uncle Ho on the day of great victory" continuously resounded, along with the cheers and encouragement for the players of both teams. Now, every time April 30th comes, I miss it...".

As if by a stroke of fate, the authors of the two goals in the "reunion match" have become legends of Vietnamese football. Mr. Le Thuy Hai and Mai Duc Chung are rare figures who have won the national championship as both a player and a coach.

Both are close friends and interestingly possess somewhat different personalities. Mr. Hai is strong and individualistic. Mr. Chung is gentle and emotional. Personality also creates different fates and journeys to success between the two men.

The late coach Le Thuy Hai spent many years training youth and women's football before taking charge of the V-League for the first time in 2004 at LG Hanoi ACB. Since then, he has become a prominent figure both on and off the field in domestic football. He has won the V-League 3 times and is the highest-paid domestic coach.

Mr. Chung started his coaching career with men's football, as a youth team coach and then as head coach of the General Department of Railways.

In 1997, when women's football did not have a national championship, he was unexpectedly appointed as head coach of the first Vietnamese women's team to participate in the 19th SEA Games in Indonesia, where we won a bronze medal.

From being a "latecomer" compared to Thai or Myanmar women's football, Vietnamese women's football has risen strongly to become the "big sister" in the region. Coach Mai Duc Chung's mark shines on the entire development journey.

He was the head coach of the Vietnamese women's team in 4 out of 6 times winning the SEA Games gold medal, the one who led the girls in red shirts to the semi-finals of the 2014 Asiad, and the one who led the "diamond girls" to the World Cup finals for the first time.

Before becoming famous at the Railway Industry's football team, Mr. Chung started his football career at the Hanoi Van Company's football team. That's why he was nicknamed Chung "Xe Ca".

In addition, he was also called Chung "athletic", because of his tenacious playing style like an athlete. Later, when he was successful with the Vietnamese women's team, he was called Chung "girl". Rarely does a football legend possess so many interesting nicknames.

However, before ending his career at the age of 74, Mr. Chung's career had many ups and downs. Unlike his close friend Le Thuy Hai, Coach Mai Duc Chung once joked that he had trouble sleeping because he was paid too much money when he accepted to lead Binh Duong Club in 2010, with a salary of nearly 100 million VND.

Another unique detail is that Mr. Mai Duc Chung is probably the only coach in the world to have led both the men's and women's national teams at the same time.

Of course, that uniqueness also comes from the fact that almost any time Vietnamese football encounters difficulties, even teams that no one dares to "put out the fire", Coach Mai Duc Chung is always ready to step up to face the storm.

Mr. Hai himself also said that his close friend was "foolish". "For example, in 2017, I took on the responsibility of being the interim coach of the Vietnamese men's football team. Mr. Le Thuy Hai said that I was too foolish, if the team was successful, people would quickly forget me.

If the team fails, I will be the target of public criticism. He gave me sincere and honest advice. That year, Vietnamese football had just failed at the 2017 SEA Games, and no coach wanted to replace coach Nguyen Huu Thang to lead the team," Mr. Chung shared.

"That year, many people even felt that the Vietnamese team was about to lose to Cambodia in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers," he continued. "The then VFF President, Mr. Le Hung Dung, when calling me, admitted that he had called many people before, but they all refused. He told me that he was very embarrassed to invite me in such a situation.

I myself thought that the head of the Vietnam Football Federation could not have opened his heart to me like that, if I refused to accept the team, it would be difficult for him. Besides, everyone had left the team, if I left too, where would the team go? So I accepted the Vietnam team. Luckily, the team won both matches under my tenure, overcoming the most difficult time."

Looking back now, it can be said that it was this fearlessness of hardship that helped coach Mai Duc Chung take a different journey to become a monument of Vietnamese football.

Coach Mai Duc Chung has decided to leave the Vietnam women's team and retire at the age of 72. Sharing about Mr. Chung's decision, Coach Park Hang Seo, another legend of Vietnamese football, wrote: "Mr. Mai Duc Chung, a legend of Vietnamese football.

Since the day I met you, I have always had the highest respect when listening to your achievements and sacrifices for Vietnamese football. Have a happy retirement, travel and enjoy life a lot. You deserve it. See you again soon."

Expert Steve Darby, who led the Vietnamese women's team to win the 2001 SEA Games gold medal, also praised his predecessor and successor: "Coach Mai Duc Chung is a wonderful man.

I have great respect for him both professionally and personally. Anyone who stays with a team for a long time must have something special. I have always been impressed by the way he cares for his players. He is a teacher to his students!"

The "special" thing about Mr. Chung, as expert Darby mentioned, is his kindness. The old general is kind to each student to the point of being called "Uncle Chung", "Father Chung". Striker Nguyen Anh Duc has said goodbye to the national team but only heard the call of "Father Chung", he immediately went on the road and won the AFF Cup 2018 with the Vietnamese team.

It's not for nothing that the female players are always united and dedicated under the guidance of "teacher Chung".

And that old general is kind to the development of the country's football, always ready to rush into the boiling oil and fire without hesitation. When asked about the formula for success, he firmly said: "No! I have no secret, I just know how to work and work.

I work hard, always telling myself to try a little harder, for my job and for the people around me. When I work, I don't know if the job will be successful or not. I just try my best to do my job."

For many years, at the age of "thất thập cổ lai hy" when he should be resting and having fun, Mr. Chung still rolls around with the Vietnamese women's team. In the rain, wind, cold or scorching sun, even in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic storm, Coach Mai Duc Chung still rolls around with his students.

The image of the old general bowing and dedicating himself to the country's football will forever be imprinted in the hearts of fans. That is the most precious value of a person who works with kindness.

Content: Ngoc Trung

Design: Tuan Huy

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