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Park Hang-seo pic:x

Xtra Time Web Desk: Park Hang-seo, the transformative force behind Vietnam’s rise in football, is among the prominent candidates for the vacant coaching position of India’s national football team. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has received 214 applications so far, with more expected before the July 3 deadline.

"We are not looking at any of the applications till the deadline," a senior AIFF official told TOI on Wednesday. "Next week, we will sort out the applications, categorize the coaches, and take the process forward. As of now, we are keeping all options open."

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Park's impressive record with Vietnam could make his application stand out. During his five-year tenure, he took Vietnam from underdogs in 2017 to the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup, where they narrowly lost to Japan. Known affectionately as ‘Uncle Park,’ he also led Vietnam’s World Cup 2022 qualifying campaign, bringing the team to the final stage of the Asian qualifiers, a notable achievement for the Southeast Asian nation.

Under his leadership, Vietnam maintained their top position in the ASEAN region and spent a record time among the world's top 100 teams, a remarkable feat for a Southeast Asian team. Park also managed Vietnam’s under-23 team, delivering a Southeast Asian title and employing an exciting, counter-attacking style of play that earned admiration across the region.

“Park is a hero in Vietnam, and his interest in Indian football is a good sign,” said another AIFF official. “His record against much higher-ranked countries is enviable, and he managed to do all this with thrilling, counter-attacking football.”Despite his achievements, the AIFF might be cautious about Park's salary expectations. Sources indicate that he earned a monthly salary of $50,000 (approximately Rs 41 lakh) in Vietnam, significantly higher than what the AIFF paid former coach Igor Stimac.

The AIFF's advertisement for the coaching position calls for candidates with 10-15 years of experience at the elite youth and senior level. Preference will be given to those with experience as the first-team coach of a senior national team and those who have coached in World Cup and continental championship qualifiers.

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“The coach has to be efficient, plan much in advance, make the best use of the available resources, and deliver within the budget,” the AIFF stated.As the application deadline approaches, the AIFF will soon embark on the process of selecting a coach capable of steering Indian football towards new heights.