No more legends
The AFF Cup (newly named ASEAN Cup) is about to enter its 15th season. In 24 years, the Southeast Asian national team tournament has changed its name 5 times, witnessed 4 champions and also seen many players enter the legendary temple of regional football. Particularly in the 3rd decade of its history (from 2010 to 2020), a number of faces with their abilities and qualifications have positioned the tournament's name.
Chanathip Songkrasin, Theerathon Bunmathan, Teerasil Dangda built a prosperous Thailand in the period of 2014 to 2016, with 2 consecutive championships to affirm the number 1 position in Southeast Asia. The mark of Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Van Quyet in the history of the Vietnam National Team since 2010 brought many emotions. It could be the tears of failure after 2 missed appointments to the AFF Cup final in 2014, 2016, or it could also be the explosive moment with the convincing championship in 2018 under the "reign" of coach Park Hang-seo.
Indonesia and Malaysia also contributed names to a glorious period of the AFF Cup. Stefano Lilipaly, Andik Vermansah, Safiq Rahim, Safee Sali and Farzial Marlias were the pride of these two national teams every time they stepped onto the Southeast Asian stage.
However, according to the natural law of football, legends also step into the other side of their careers and are replaced as a matter of course. Dangda, Songkrasin, Bunmathan are no longer present in the Thai team competing in the AFF Cup 2024. As for the Vietnamese team, Van Quyet said goodbye a month ago. Que Ngoc Hai and Do Hung Dung's declining physical strength combined with the presence of injuries have made the leaders of the "Golden Star Warriors" no longer in Mr. Kim Sang-sik's plan.
Stage for the rising stars
But that's football. Replacement and continuity help the king sport always have stars. Saying goodbye to a series of AFF Cup monuments in the period 2010 - 2020, the 4th decade of AFF Cup is ready to welcome new stars.
Indonesia may only have a young squad to participate in the AFF Cup 2024. But the remaining 1/3 of the force in the hands of Mr. Shin Tae-yong is still a quality domestic player. Asnawi Mangkualam, Pramata Arhan or Marselino Ferdinan were all considered promising stars at the AFF Cup 2020 and 2022. This is the best time for them to position themselves in the new "celeb" lineup of the tournament. For Thailand, Supachok Sarachat, Suphanat Mueanta or Ekanit Panya are ready to replace the legendary senior generation. Similarly, the Vietnam team after Que Ngoc Hai and Nguyen Van Quyet still has a force capable of stepping onto the AFF Cup stage.
Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Bui Vi Hao are ready to be remembered by the audience. Not to mention, stars like Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai also need to find themselves again, like the way they shone in AFF Cup 2018 or 2020. Is AFF Cup 2024 worth watching?
For nostalgic audiences, they will regret that many of the old legends are no longer present. But “old bamboo, new shoots grow”, new promising players of Southeast Asia will be the main characters in the upcoming Southeast Asian tournament. The AFF Cup itself also carries a different identity name and the tournament’s strength is also waiting to be positioned by a series of rising stars.
