4 goalkeepers of U22 Vietnam and the competition for the number 1 position

During the March 2025 gathering, the U22 Vietnam team summoned three promising young goalkeepers: Cao Van Binh, Ho Tung Han, Nguyen Tan and Tran Trung Kien. Each has their own strengths, promising to create an interesting competition for the starting position in the U22 Vietnam goal. Let's take a look at the journey, achievements and impressive numbers of these 4 "goalkeepers" before important tournaments.

Ho Tung Han - experience is an advantage

Among the four goalkeepers called up this time, Ho Tung Han is the one with the most experience. Born in 2003, Tung Han was once a reliable choice in goal for the Vietnam U20 team participating in the 2023 U20 Asian qualifiers.

Recently, he made an important step forward when he joined Balestier Khalsa Club in Singapore on loan from SHB Da Nang. Playing in a foreign professional tournament gave Tung Han the opportunity to practice, accumulate experience and improve his skills.

Ho Tung Han's strengths lie in his composure, ability to judge situations and quick reflexes. However, he needs to improve his ability to play with his feet to suit modern football philosophy.

Cao Van Binh - a promising young talent

Cao Van Binh is the name that has received the most attention in this gathering. Born in 2005, Van Binh is the youngest goalkeeper on the list but has an impressive record. He was the number one goalkeeper of the Vietnam U20 team at the 2023 AFC U20 Championship finals, contributing greatly to the team's important victories.

In addition, Cao Van Binh also made his mark when he was given the opportunity to play in the V-League for Song Lam Nghe An at the age of 18. He became one of the youngest goalkeepers to ever start in Vietnam's highest league.

Van Binh's biggest advantage is his height of 1m83, his ability to catch high balls and his excellent reflexes. However, his weakness lies in his lack of experience at the highest level, something that young goalkeepers need a lot of time to perfect.

Nguyen Tan - the mysterious factor

Compared to his two teammates, Nguyen Tan is the least known name. He is currently on the payroll of Ba Ria Vung Tau Club and has not had many opportunities to show his talent in major tournaments. Nguyen Tan is 20 years old this year and also has good skills. He is the first generation of the cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation and Lyon Club (France), and was the main goalkeeper for the Vietnam U22 team in the match against Malaysia U22 2-1 in the final round of CFA China Team 2024.

Nguyen Tan is considered a goalkeeper with quick reflexes, reasonable entry and exit, and stable performance. However, the lack of experience in top-level competition could be a disadvantage in the fierce competition in the U22 team.

Tran Trung Kien - No. 1 candidate for the goal of the U22 Vietnam team

Tran Trung Kien, born on February 9, 2003 in Hung Yen, is a promising young goalkeeper of Vietnamese football. He is currently playing for Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club in V.League 1 and has been called up to the Vietnam national team. Currently, Trung Kien is being promoted to the Vietnam national team, after overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Filip asked not to concentrate because of a relative's illness.

With an impressive height of 1m91, Trung Kien is considered one of the goalkeepers with an ideal physique, giving him an advantage in controlling space and dealing with high balls. He has undergone the entire training process at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, a place famous for producing many football talents for Vietnam.

One of the notable milestones in Trung Kien’s career was his great contribution to helping Hoang Anh Gia Lai U21 win the National U21 Championship. In this tournament, he became a hero when he helped his team win three consecutive penalty kicks, affirming his important role in the team’s journey to the championship.

Race for the number one spot

With 4 goalkeepers with their own strengths, the race for the starting position in the U22 Vietnam team will be very attractive. Ho Tung Han has experience, Cao Van Binh is a promising young talent, and Nguyen Tan can create a surprise if he performs well in this training session. Tran Trung Kien has a long time training with the Vietnam team in the 2024 ASEAN Cup campaign.

The choice of the number one goalkeeper will depend on the coach’s tactics as well as the performance of each player in upcoming training sessions and matches. However, the most important thing is that all 4 goalkeepers have the opportunity to gain experience, contributing to the long-term preparation of Vietnamese football.