Thanh Hoa FC Kicks Off: A Season of New Hopes and Big Challenges

On the morning of September 4, at Thanh Hoa Stadium, a departure ceremony took place in a jubilant yet calculated atmosphere. I stood at the corner of the pitch, noting every small detail: the smile of new chairman Le Xuan Tuong as he handed the flag to the captain, the determined look of coach Mai Xuan Hop, and the unfamiliar faces of foreign players getting acquainted with their teammates. The 2026-27 season is approaching, and Thanh Hoa FC has chosen to enter it with a comprehensive transformation. The context of this season is completely different from last year. In the 2026-26 season, the team from Thanh Hoa had only 18 players at their disposal, fought against tremendous financial pressure, and ultimately finished in 11th place—a result widely considered an overachievement. But now, the team has a completely new look. Under the leadership of new chairman Le Xuan Tuong, a businessman behind T-Group and Thang Long Instruments Joint Stock Company, Thanh Hoa FC has registered up to 30 players for the new season, including 26 domestic players, 4 foreign players, and 1 overseas Vietnamese player. The squad expansion from 18 to 30 players is not just a number. It is the clearest signal that new financial resources have been injected into the club. But the biggest question is not how many players they have, but the quality of those players. Looking at the registration list, I noticed a very clear allocation: two foreign midfielders, Abdurakhmanov (from Uzbekistan) and Lovric Di Mateo, along with two foreign strikers, Monteiro Martins and Guindo. No foreign center-back was registered. This suggests the team wants to concentrate attacking power on foreign players, but it also exposes a potential weakness in defense when facing physically strong strikers. Using the overseas Vietnamese slot for Damoth Thongkhamsavath, a Laos international, is a smart recruitment tactic. According to V-League regulations, overseas Vietnamese players are registered in a separate quota, not occupying a foreign player slot. Thanh Hoa's use of this slot for a player currently representing the Laos national team shows they prioritize filling a specific position (possibly winger or attacking midfielder) at a reasonable cost, rather than seeking a more high-profile Vietnamese-heritage player. This is a thrifty and pragmatic approach for a club without abundant financial resources. Coach Mai Xuan Hop's tactical puzzle this season will be very different. Last season, with 18 players, he had to build a tight defensive style and minimize rotation to preserve energy. Now, with 30 players, he has more options and rotation capacity. But this change also carries risks. Having too many new faces requires time to integrate, and if the team tries to play more expansively in the early season, they may struggle before finding cohesion. Off the pitch, the arrival of new chairman Le Xuan Tuong is equally significant. His decision to retain coach Mai Xuan Hop after taking over is a positive signal for dressing-room stability. The players and coaching staff have spent a year together overcoming difficulties, and this continuity could be a good foundation for the new season. However, the pressure has also increased. The public commitment to achieving "the highest results" in both the V-League and the National Cup, made at the departure ceremony, is a double-edged sword. If the team fails to improve on last season's 11th place, these promises could backfire on the management and coaching staff. The opening match against SHB Da Nang at home on September 6 will be the first test. A win would boost confidence and build momentum. A loss or draw could trigger early criticism. I recall a phrase I often use in my work: "There are things that don't show on the scoreboard, but they decide everything." For Thanh Hoa, the most important thing right now is not how many players they have, but whether they can build a cohesive unit and a clear playing style. The truth is, recruiting foreign players from value markets like Uzbekistan or West Africa shows that Thanh Hoa's budget is still limited compared to giants like Hanoi FC or Cong An Ha Noi. This means their most realistic goal is probably not competing for the title, but a top-8 or top-6 finish. Publicly announcing big ambitions may be part of a media strategy, but it also creates a level of expectation the team must face. From a management perspective, the leadership change is a positive structural signal, but its sustainability remains an open question. Is T-Group's investment a long-term commitment or just a short-term branding campaign? The answer will be revealed through how the club operates throughout the season and whether they can generate independent revenue from sponsorship and ticket sales. One thing is certain: this season will show us who Thanh Hoa FC really is. Are they the resilient team of last season, or a new collective searching for its identity? The match against SHB Da Nang will be the first piece of the larger puzzle. The stadium may be empty, but I can still hear the heartbeat of the match. From Busan, where I observe Korean football, I have learned that football does not lie. And for Thanh Hoa, the 2026-27 season will be the most honest affirmation of their ambition and capability.