Sad ending…

(Baonghean) - Coming to QNK.Quang Nam when this team decided to start football from the root, with the first stones laid, Cao Xuan Thang is a very special name. In the first season playing for the Quang Nam team, Cao Xuan Thang was the captain, a great contributor, helping the team win a place to play in the V.League for the first time. Many people believed that Thang would be "untouchable" in terms of position. However, few people learn the unexpected in life, when after only 1 season playing with QNK.Quang Nam in the V.League, Xuan Thang was "abandoned"...

Along with coach Nguyen Van Thinh, Cao Xuan Thang came to QNK.Quang Nam at a time when the team decided to play football seriously with a detailed roadmap. A short time later, due to work pressure, Xuan Thang's compatriot Nguyen Van Thinh could not stay in the position of head coach and left. With Cao Xuan Thang, it was different, his bravery after many years of struggling helped him demonstrate his role. Playing well and having prestige with his teammates, Cao Xuan Thang and Vu Quang Bao, who replaced Nguyen Van Thinh, were considered by Quang Nam fans as "heroes" in the team's achievement of winning the First Division championship and gaining promotion to the V.League.

Xuan Thang was the captain with great contributions to QNK.Quang Nam.

Being praised and everyone thought that QNK.Quang Nam would never “treat” him badly. But football is like life, no one can predict anything. The story started from the training process, preparing for the 2014 season. At that time, no one knew what happened, between coach Vu Quang Bao and captain Cao Xuan Thang, there were many days of “bad rice, bad soup”. The disagreement was pushed to a high point right in the team’s first match at Tam Ky stadium. In that match, coach Vu Quang Bao did not let Cao Xuan Thang start and right after the match, this central defender reacted openly.

The leaders intervened and after that, the tension between the two sides was no longer there. However, from then on, Xuan Thang became psychologically depressed, lost himself, and played ineffectively. Coach Vu Quang Bao also did not use the once-famous central defender of Nghe An football for most of the remaining time. But that was not the worst thing. Preparing for the 2015 season, Xuan Thang received the "thunderbolt" news when he was no longer part of the QNK.Quang Nam squad for the 2015 season.

Xuan Thang signed a 3-year contract with QNK.Quang Nam and if nothing happens, he still has 1 more year to stay with the Quang Nam team. However, after the end of the 2014 season, Coach Vu Quang Bao put Xuan Thang and many other players on the liquidation list because they did not meet professional requirements and needed to be replaced. After that, Coach Vu Quang Bao had to leave for many reasons and a new team of the team was formed. Realizing the affection that fans had for Thang as well as the contributions of this central defender in the early days, the leadership of QNK.Quang Nam considered and suggested that Coach Hoang Van Phuc (who replaced Coach Vu Quang Bao) use him again.

Xuan Thang was the captain with great contributions to QNK.Quang Nam.

In fact, after a season with little contact, the stiffness and ball feeling are definitely problems and put Xuan Thang at a disadvantage in competing for a position. However, everyone thinks that the team has made changes at the upper level, which means that Thang "bull head"'s spirit and motivation to play will certainly be greater. Already on the other side of his career slope and many people are skeptical, but 32 years old is not too old for a player, while Thang has experience, maturity and has somewhat created prestige with his juniors. Besides, his selfless, selfless playing style is also an advantage for Thang to score points.

A contract to record achievements, creating a premise for Xuan Thang to approach the goal of pursuing a coaching career. Everyone thought so, because it would be reasonable, logical and supported by the majority. But few expected that the QNK.Quang Nam coaching board would remain stubborn and refuse to accept Xuan Thang. Abandoned by the team he had devoted himself to and contributed to, Xuan Thang officially became unemployed.

At 33 years old, no longer having enough health and perseverance to pursue a career in “shorts and jerseys”, Xuan Thang has decided to give up his career. Xuan Thang said he is considering pursuing a coaching career. It has been his dream for a long time, but at the moment, Xuan Thang does not know where to start.

An unsatisfactory ending and unfinished future plans are the worries and concerns of the once-famous central defender of the Nghe An team.

Vinh Liem