Unknown stories about the goalkeeper coach at Team 1 Song Lam Nghe An

A thorny football career

Goalkeeper Pham Duc Anh was born in 1983 in Nghia Dan and came to football quite late, at the age of 15 after a recruitment trip to the district by the scouts of Song Lam Nghe An. Only two years after entering the Song Lam Nghe An training center, he affirmed his talent in the youth teams.Lam River Nghe Anand under the guidance of coach Nguyen Van Thinh, Duc Anh participated in the 2000 Asian U16 Finals in Da Nang.

In that tournament, Duc Anh had 5 main matches for the Vietnam U16 team, along with a series of his teammates who came to light and became famous later such as Pham Van Quyen, Phan Nhu Thuat, Nguyen Minh Duc... Creating a buzz in the continental arena, but Duc Anh's playing career later on was not very favorable.

Being promoted to the first team of Song Lam Nghe An but not getting a starting position, Duc Anh went back to Hue Football Club to play on loan in the 2003 and 2004 seasons. Returning to Song Lam Nghe An, Pham Duc Anh continued to be a backup for his senior Duong Hong Son. It was not until the 2008 season when Hong Son joined Hanoi Club that the goalkeeper from Nghia Dan became the number 1 choice in the goal of the Nghe An team.

Although he was the main goalkeeper for Song Lam Nghe An, the goalkeeper born in 1983 continuously suffered from very serious injuries and seemed to have to retire early. The most unforgettable memory was the match against Dong Thap Club at Cao Lanh Stadium in the 2009 season when he broke 2 tibias and 2 knee ligaments after a very strong collision with the opposing striker.

After 2 years away from the field, Duc Anh returned to practice in the 2011 season. However, for many consecutive years, Duc Anh could not compete for a starting position, Duc Anh left the Nghe An team at the end of the 2013 season. He went to Khanh Hoa hoping for a chance to play at the top level again, but Duc Anh was still not accepted, with no other choice, Duc Anh only played football in amateur playgrounds.

It was not until the 2016 season that Duc Anh was seen playing for Dong Thap Club, then Tay Ninh Club in the First Division. Retiring at the end of 2017, Duc Anh ended an unlucky playing career. In 2018, Duc Anh went to study for a coaching license and returned to Song Lam Nghe An as a young coach.

Once intended to quit job to work abroad

At the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center, there was a lack of a coaching position for goalkeepers and Duc Anh was a specialized goalkeeper coach. This was a position that was completely suitable for him and after only a few years in the profession, the coach born in 1983 had many titles with the youth teams.

Despite all the favorable conditions and such success, at the end of 2018, coach Pham Duc Anh planned to quit his job and go abroad to work as an export laborer because of the low salary and the financial burden of having to take care of his family. As fate would have it, Duc Anh could not complete the procedures to go abroad and continued working at the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Training Center.

After many years as an assistant to coaches at the youth level, Duc Anh was first able to lead a youth team to participate in the national tournament and won the championship with U11 Song Lam Nghe An in 2022. This was the 7th championship of Song Lam Nghe An in the history of the tournament. After that, Duc Anh continued to return as an assistant to the head coaches, supplementing and tutoring talented goalkeepers for Song Lam Nghe An.

One of the most surprising turning points for Duc Anh was his appointment as assistant coach to the head coach of Team 1 Song Lam Nghe An. After parting ways with coach Nguyen Duc Thang, no one thought that one day a player as unlucky and unfortunate as Duc Anh would be given such an opportunity. People say Duc Anh is lucky, but diligence and a receptive attitude towards learning and working seriously are things he always has in him.

Not letting down the trust of the leadership, Duc Anh is doing very well in his role at Team 1 of Song Lam Nghe An. The young goalkeepers in the youth team and Team 1 have made remarkable progress, including the case of goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet, who is currently the number 1 goalkeeper of the home team. Not only that, Duc Anh also volunteered to participate in supporting the head coach in analyzing matches using Video technology.

Finally, after the haunting, injuries and not-so-smooth journey while playing, it has come to an end. Now, a new journey with former goalkeeper Pham Duc Anh is starting with great promise./.