Problem number 9 of Vietnam team: Xuan Son returns
V.League depends on foreign players, making domestic strikers scarce; only Nguyen Hoang Duc has 4 goals in the top 10. Coach Kim is flexible, putting his trust in Xuan Son and Vi Hao.
The Vietnamese team entered a new phase with a large gap in the No. 9 position. In the context of a shortage of domestic strikers, coach Kim Sang-sik put his faith in the return of naturalized player Xuan Son, while preparing flexible attack plans so as not to depend on a single striker.
The gap number 9 and the return of Xuan Son
The striker is the tactical fulcrum for every team, but at present, this is a position lacking in Vietnamese football. Xuan Son was called back to the national team, becoming a central option to strengthen the scoring, alongside familiar names that have been predicted by opponents.
This choice reflects the long-standing personnel problem in the center forward position, where the Vietnamese team has not yet found a domestic number 9 with class and stable performance.
V.League and the reality of dependence on foreign players
The problem does not only occur at the national team level but is deeply rooted in the structure of the V.League competition. Data shows that the Golden Boot title for many long seasons belongs to foreign players, while Vietnamese players rarely appear in the leading group.
According to Fstats of the current 2025/2026 season, in the top 10 leading scorers, only midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc is present with 4 goals. Domestic strikers have almost no room to perform, and as a result, lack of experience in the field.
| Player | Notable achievements |
|---|---|
| Nguyen Hoang Duc | 4 goals, the only Vietnamese player in the top 10 of the 2025/2026 season (Fstats) |
| Bui Van Binh | 2 goals/203 minutes; mainly coming off the bench |
| Nguyen Minh Tam | 2 goals/386 minutes; also often comes off the bench |
These numbers are not just a matter of form, but reflect the way clubs operate: the pressure of short-term results puts the onus of scoring goals on foreign players. Domestic strikers, even young faces with potential, lack playing time to hone their instincts and gain experience.
The burden of history after Cong Vinh and Anh Duc
Since the generation of Cong Vinh – Anh Duc stepped back, domestic strikers have become a long-term concern. At the AFF Cup 2018, coach Park Hang-seo had to recall Nguyen Anh Duc and it was his goal that brought the championship to Vietnam. Seven years later, Vietnamese football still has not had a similar “late bloomer”.
Currently, the Vietnamese team is facing the problem of risk if it depends on the older pillars or those recovering from injuries. Betting on Xuan Son for the striker position reflects the urgent need to have a reliable enough spearhead at the international level.
Coach Kim Sang-sik manages: speed, wide movement and pressing
Based on the reality of personnel, coach Kim Sang-sik chose to diversify scoring options. Instead of being confined to a single striker, he prioritized building a flexible, fast attacking style, with strikers moving widely and pressing strongly.
At U22, this coach rotated Nguyen Quoc Viet, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Ngoc My and Vo Van Thuan to create a system with many explosive points. At the same time, he quickly summoned Bui Vi Hao to reduce the pressure on the number 9 position.
Vi Hao has the speed and technique to play as a centre forward or winger. If he regains his form after injury, he could be a useful tactical asset in the flexible system that Coach Kim is pursuing.
Impact and roadmap ahead
The scarcity of domestic strikers not only affects the national team but is also a warning for U22 Vietnam before goals such as SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. When the output from V.League has not improved, the work of the national team is forced to focus on organizing the play to make up for the gap of number 9.
It will be a combination of optimizing flexible play, speed and pressing, while patiently giving opportunities to young domestic strikers. In that picture, the return of Xuan Son is the immediate support, while efforts to develop the next generation will determine the depth of the Vietnamese team in the medium term.
