Before celebrating survival, Thanh Hóa faces a risk of squad disintegration.

Having secured their place in V-League 2025/26, Thanh Hóa now confronts significant turbulence due to the departure of numerous core players and looming financial troubles, compounded by a FIFA-imposed transfer embargo.

For the 2025/2026 season, Thanh Hóa FC achieved their goal of staying in the top flight. However, behind this result lies a turbulent scenario as the club from Thanh Hóa prepares for an extensive squad restructuring. Although they managed to withstand the points pressure, the team still has to deal with numerous issues concerning finances, personnel, and strategic direction for the upcoming season.

On the field, Thanh Hóa managed to fulfill their mission, ending up four points above the relegation zone despite losing to Ninh Bình in matchday 25. However, immediately after the season concluded, the team witnessed a wave of major departures of a host of key players, including captain Doãn Ngọc Tân, veteran midfielder Lê Quốc Phương and striker Nguyễn Ngọc Mỹ. These are all names that played important roles in the recent survival campaign.

The most notable development is the departure of Doãn Ngọc Tân, who packed his bags and left the team's headquarters after the 0-2 loss to Ninh Bình. Having been with the club since 2021, Ngọc Tân was the midfield leader, making 17 appearances this season with 16 starts. After receiving a red card in the penultimate round, he missed the final match and confirmed his exit.

Notably, Ngọc Tân also left an emotional message for his teammates: "After this season, Tân will no longer be with you all at Thanh Hóa. I wish you all health and success in the new season. No matter where I am, I will always follow everyone and cherish the moments we shared together."Meanwhile, Lê Quốc Phương also bid farewell to his playing career after many years of dedication to Thanh Hóa football, concluding a journey that began at the local academy.

Not only did they lose personnel, but Thanh Hóa also faced severe financial pressure after losing a sponsor mid-season, forcing them to terminate contracts and loan out many players to cut costs. The lack of stable resources caused squad upheaval, yet they still gritted their teeth to achieve the minimum goal of survival amid prolonged difficulties.

Currently, the Thanh Hóa side continues to face penalties from FIFA with a ban on registering new players for three consecutive transfer windows due to salary arrears and financial obligations. Along with still not finding a new sponsor, the club also faces the risk of failing to meet the standards for participating in the 2026/2027 V-League, forcing the leadership to quickly come up with solutions to stabilize the entire operational system.