Who will replace Thanh Luong in the Vietnamese national team?

For the past eight years since being called up to the national team by coach Calisto to prepare for the 2008 AFF Cup, Thanh Luong, with his skillful individual technique and tricky playing style, has almost been the default left winger for the Vietnamese national team throughout various periods.

Pham Thanh Luong announced his retirement from the national team after the defeat at the 2016 AFF Cup. (Screenshot)

Thanh Luong's consistently high performance has inadvertently left other left-wing midfielders with virtually no chance of being included in the Vietnamese national team, or at best, only as substitutes to fill the squad. Now, with Luong's departure from the national team after the 2016 AFF Cup, opportunities are more open than ever for left-wing midfielders in Vietnamese football. Here are three strong candidates who could replace Thanh Luong in this position.

1. Dinh Thanh Trung

Dinh Thanh Trung has the opportunity to replace Thanh Luong in the national team.

Despite being the same age as Thanh Luong (even 8 months younger), Thanh Trung has played for the national team less than one-third of his peer's number of appearances. The recent AFF Cup was the only tournament where Thanh Trung started more matches than Thanh Luong (Thanh Trung: 3 matches, Thanh Luong: 2 matches).

The captain of Quang Nam FC has been playing very consistently in the last two seasons, both in terms of creating chances and scoring goals. Furthermore, Thanh Trung is considered the best free-kick taker in the Vietnamese national team currently. If he continues to maintain his current form, the position left vacant by Thanh Luong in the Vietnamese national team will likely be taken over by Thanh Trung.

2. Le Quoc Phuong

Le Quoc Phuong (number 19).

Although he has never been called up to the senior national team (despite having been called up to the U19 and U21 teams before), based on what he has shown in the last 2-3 seasons, Quoc Phuong deserves a chance. Like Thanh Luong, Quoc Phuong is known for his exceptional left foot. Possessing a good basic technical foundation, this midfielder from Thanh Hoa has created many spectacular goals with his special left foot.

With precise positioning and incredibly powerful shots, Quoc Phuong leaves goalkeepers baffled. Not only that, this diminutive midfielder also frequently provides intelligent assists for his teammates. If he can improve his fitness and tackling ability, Quoc Phuong would be a good option on the left wing for the Vietnamese national team in the "post-Thanh Luong" era.

3. Nguyen Hoang Quoc Chi

Quoc Chi could be a game-changer in the Vietnamese national team's lineup in the future.

At the same age as Quoc Phuong (born in 1991), another player who plays as a left winger is Nguyen Hoang Quoc Chi. Wearing the colors of the coastal team, Quoc Chi is nicknamed "The Man with No Lungs" thanks to his boundless stamina and ability to move continuously across the entire field for 90 minutes. Originally a left-back, but with his technical skills and powerful attacking runs, Quoc Chi was promoted to left midfielder, and he has excelled in this role thanks to his good speed and keen tactical awareness.

In the last two seasons, Quoc Chi's skillful breakthroughs have tormented many opposing defenses, making him a crucial strategic asset for coach Vo Dinh Tan. Furthermore, Quoc Chi is equally adept at shooting with both feet and possesses excellent opportunism. The midfielder, currently playing for Khanh Hoa, could potentially bring a fresh dynamic to the Vietnamese national team in the near future if called up.

According to Bongda