Li Yingzhen: 'I once rejected U23 Vietnam because of my son's wedding'

-How long has it been since you visited your family in Korea?

-I just got back to Korea in June for my eldest son's wedding. Immediately after Coach Park Hengrui returned home, I returned to Vietnam.

-What do your family think of your life in Vietnam?

-I live here alone, and my wife and two sons are still in Korea. At home, I have my mother and sister. They're not that worried about me. But as a family, people often ask some things, such as eating-sleeping-resting, how to live … that's it.

Before Covid-19, my wife and children visited me in Vietnam. We went to Halong Bay together. The whole family likes Vietnamese food. My wife is most impressed by rice noodle, and my favorite is steamed stuffed bun tea. I also like Vietnamese coffee very much, especially iced brown. When I went to Nha Trang yesterday, I took advantage of it and brought back a bunch.

-How long will it take you to adjust to life in Vietnam?

-I came to Vietnam in winter (the end of 2017). I didn't expect it to be so cold here. The first thing I have to buy is an electric blanket. I clearly felt what "cold to bone, cold to meat" meant. I thought Vietnam was a tropical country, hot and sunny, but I didn't expect it to be so cold. In the street, everyone wears life jackets and cotton shirts. South Korea is also very cold, but houses there usually have heating inside. Not in Vietnam. I really couldn't sleep for the first few days. So, it took me a long time to get used to it, especially the cold in Hanoi.

It's too hot in summer. On July 4th, I flew out from Da Nang, and it was easy to feel the humidity difference in Hanoi. It makes me breathless. But anyway, I prefer summer.

-Which Vietnamese player have you been most impressed with in the past five years?

-I have no criteria for evaluating players individually. Every player must have a good reason to join the team. Coach Park and I have always stressed that the team is the most important thing. Of course, everyone has to improve, but in general, how to make the team improve is our concern.

- But perhaps, he also gave a certain favor to someone, such as Cong Phuong. Once, while the team waiting for the plane, did you give a notebook and teach to Cong Phuong how to move on the field?

- I try to help all players improve. Football sometimes needs specific images illustrations, so I help Cong Phuong like that. I want my small contributions to help the players progress.

What about Mr. Chinh being called Mr. Lee's son?

Yes, I personally love Mr. Chinh. As far as I'm concerned, he lives with his mother and sister and it's been so difficult for me to love, I want him to grow more money, make more money to worry about his family.

Personally, as a football fan, I like Vietnamese players very much. I don't want people to think that I'm biased towards someone and that someone is special. I just want Vietnamese players to develop more and earn more money to be filial to their families.

-As a professional player, he is a big name in South Korea and participated in two World Cups with the national team in 1990 and 1994. What is your strong point "weapon"?

-This is my confidence in myself, always wanting to know how to win. I am inferior to my competitors in bodybuilding and physical fitness, but I always study ways to make up for this shortcoming and win.

I have a right foot, but I can use my left foot. This is what I practice to improve myself. I only use my left foot in some trainings. As a player, I play defensive midfield. But every position has its own charm. I do a lot of research on offense and defense, especially defense.

- Life of players always dreamed of the World Cup. How is your experience for that tournament?

-I was called up for the World Cup for the first time in 1990, and I am proud to represent my country. My parents are also proud of me. I feel that I can be filial to my parents, who have taken care of me for a long time in my career.

In Italy in 1990, I first realized how important experience is to a football player. Before that, I thought I was great when I played domestically a lot. But when I came to the World Cup, I felt like a frog in a well, unable to adapt to the atmosphere and fans abroad. Not only me, but maybe every player is so "scared". Every time I come out, my mind is blank. That was the time when I was most afraid of players in my life.

At the World Cup 1994, I was a 30-year-old and knee surgery, but I played better because I learned a lot. Even so, the results in the U.S. were bad, Korea was disqualified after Spain 2-2 and German-3 at the board. I'm still sorry, because if the Spanish game, we played a little better, the team would have gone further.

How did the World Cup experience become transmitted to Vietnamese players when they were in third World Cup 2022?

When the Vietnamese players walked into the final round, I always told them to trust themselves, actually, a lot of players were nervous before the battle, we had to try to encourage them. The players have to be confident first, then we can talk about our expertise.

-Why did you pick training after leaving your career in players?

-I've wanted to be a coach since I was a player. When playing, I carefully prepared and studied the necessity of becoming a coach after retiring. I have been a player in Anyang Club (the predecessor of Seoul Football Club) for 10 years. Then I went to Japan for a year and a half to learn languages and learn more football. After that, FC Seoul invited me as a coach. I accepted it because it was like I was back at home.

- Why is the famous coach in Korea, he accepted to live away from his family, to the strange and harsh land like Vietnam to be the assistant of Park?

- Before coming, I did not know much about Vietnamese football. When I was a player, I used to face some rivals from Southeast Asia, such as Thailand or Malaysia. But with Vietnamese football, I was blind. The reason I came here is just coach Park. We have known each other for a long time, since we were a player, participating in many matches. Later, when I was still playing, Park moved to the coach. Because of those intimate feelings and relationships, I did not hesitate to be invited by Park.

- Coach Park once said "Lee Young-jin is like my brain", so what is your specific job in Vietnamese teams?

- My mission is to support Park coach. I always pondered that 'what should I do to help Park' '. Analyzing opponents, planning tactics ... not my own business, but other assistants. Of course, I also participated in, giving advice and suggestions for Park.

-Many Korean teaching assistants come and go, but you are still attached to Coach Park. What is the reason for this?

-We trust each other. I know Park Geun-hye best, and he knows me best. This trust is why we are here. Besides, we also have the same idea, that is, "football must win".

When you do work, you don't avoid disagreements, like recruiting players, judging your opponent... However, the decision finally belongs to Coach Park. He was a good listener who accepted other ideas, so when he made his final decision, we always followed.

- Chung the philosophy of football victory, but Vietnam also has to receive many painful failures over time. At those times, what did he and Park say to each other?

- When losing, Coach Park and I were heartbroken because our nature was bloody, eager to win. But in this field, even if you don't want you to still accept that reality. There is a definition like this: Football is your preparation for the next match. Despite being heartbroken, we still have to see the failure to draw experience, towards the next match.

- He was hot -tempered, but in the matches often had to prevent when coach Park reacted to the referee, the opponent ... How did you change yourself like that?

- Actually, I am still hot -tempered. But I and Coach Park have been accompanying for decades so I understand each other very well. It is normal for us to stop each other. Whenever Coach Park was hot, I ran to and said, "You stop, let me solve." On the contrary, when I reacted harshly, he would stop: "Well, let's go inside, let it be for you."

- Did you receive any other invitation during working in Vietnam?

- I have a contract with the Vietnam Football Federation so I have not received any invitation. We are preparing for the AFF Cup 2022. I just want to focus on my work. Until most of the contract, I noticed the surrounding invitations. No one can tell the future. I also don't know what I will be like, nor know if there is any team invited or not.

Recently, Coach Park opened his words about the U23 coach. I am very grateful to him for considering me for this position. But I refused, because my schedule was not suitable. Last June, my son was married. If I get a job at U23, I cannot attend important events of the family. As a father, I could not be absent from those occasions. Moreover, I could not take on the two responsibilities at the same time, as the national assistant and U23 coach. I also shared with Coach Park that from now until the contract expires I want to accompany him in the national team. I told him that "we come to Vietnam together to leave together".

- What if you are proposed to succeed Coach Park in the national team?

-I can't tell you. When there is an invitation, I will think. I have known Coach Park since I was very young, so he always has a great influence on my decisions.

- Recently, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai went abroad, competing for the second -class team of France. How do you assess the possibility of this deal's success?

- When Quang Hai went abroad, I texted: "Congratulations, don't let injuries". He thanked me, and also wanted me to help when needed.

I hope many Vietnamese players will be abroad and experienced their lives abroad. Whether Quang Hai succeeded or failed, I still praised him for daring to face the challenge and stepping out of the world.

- In your opinion, Quang Hai needs to fix it to be able to adapt to that environment?

- Quang Hai is very smart, capable of making decisions quickly. That is the strongest point. The physical factor in football is very important, but I find the thinking factor sometimes more important. The point that Quang Hai needs to improve is strength. Some physical or height factors are difficult to improve, but what I want to say is that Quang Hai needs to use his own ability to create an advantage on the field. No matter what, do not expect any success in Quang Hai in France. Let him naturally develop. The French football environment is the most harshest in the world.

Mr. Lee started a professional player in 1986, once a Korean national player attending the 1990 and 1994 World Cup. In 1997, he was both a player and a coach at Anyang LG Cheetahs Club and then FC Seoul. In 2015, he led Daegu FC to compete in the K-League.

In 2017, he accepted the proposal of Park to Vietnam. Together, they have made a series of historical trophies such as: Asian U23 runner -up, in the semi -finals of ASIAD 18, winning the AFF Cup 2018, in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup 2019 and passing the second round of the 2022 World Cup - Asia. He is loved by Vietnamese players for his dedication, professionalism and experience.