Former Terengganu FC manager Tomislav Steinbruckner has officially returned to Southeast Asian football, with reports confirming that he has accepted an offer to take charge of Vietnamese club Dong A Thanh Hoa.
According to TheThao247, the 58-year-old Croatian tactician will be unveiled next week as Thanh Hoa’s new head coach. Steinbruckner has reportedly signed a contract until the end of the 2024/25 season, stepping in to replace Velizar Popov, a familiar name in Malaysian football who previously led Terengganu FC.
Steinbruckner’s immediate mission is to reverse Thanh Hoa’s alarming form, with the club currently enduring an 11-match winless streak across all competitions. Their last victory came on November 20, 2024, and expectations will be high for the Croatian to turn things around quickly.
Steinbruckner is no stranger to Southeast Asian football. His time with Terengganu FC saw him guide the club to the 2023 Unifi Malaysia Cup final, a major highlight of his tenure. However, following a disappointing run in the 2024/25 Liga Super Malaysia season, he parted ways with the club, making way for Badrul Afzan Razali to take over.
His coaching career spans multiple clubs, including Bijelo Brdo, NK Olimpija Osijek, NK Osijek, NK Graficar Vodovod, and T-Team (now Terengganu II). He also gained experience as an assistant coach for Croatia’s U-19 squad and served as academy manager at NK Novigrad.
With a proven track record and deep knowledge of football in the region, Steinbruckner will be under pressure to steer Thanh Hoa back to winning ways and restore the club’s competitiveness in Vietnamese football.
Credit Photo : TFC
