Former U21 SLNA player Tran Dinh Thang: 'When football is life'

The arduous journey

As a product of SLNA’s training center, in the same generation as Que Ngoc Manh, Vuong Quoc Trung and Le The Cuong in 1990, Tran Dinh Thang is still a rather unfamiliar name to experts and football fans in Nghe An. This is also quite understandable, because during the years wearing the jersey of SLNA’s youth teams, the player from Quynh Luu rarely got to play.

In Phu Dong, Tran Dinh Thang (number 6) is known as "Antonio Valencia of Nghe An". Photo: FBNV

Although he and U21 SLNA won the runner-up position at the 2010 National U21 Finals, Tran Dinh Thang only played a supporting role and had to sit on the bench. Simply put, at that time, Tran Dinh Thang had to compete for the starting position at right-back with Tran Dinh Hoang, a player who had been called up to the Vietnam National Team (2014 - 2016).

After not beingSLNAretained for the 2011 season, Tran Dinh Thang packed his bags and left Vinh Stadium to join Hanoi ACB, on loan. However, Tran Dinh Thang only stayed with the capital team for 2 seasons. In early 2013, Tran Dinh Thang unexpectedly joined Quang Nam, along with his teammate and fellow countryman Nguyen Van Vinh.

In his first season at Tam Ky Stadium, Tran Dinh Thang played quite impressively under the guidance of coach Vu Quang Bao, a strategist from Nghe An. Quang Nam's championship in the 2013 National First Division and ticket to play in the V.League arena, was largely due to the former Hanoi ACB player.

However, "joy is short-lived". When V.League 2014 was entering its final rounds, disaster struck Tran Dinh Thang. With a torn knee ligament injury, Tran Dinh Thang had to leave the field for 3 years and switch to other jobs (construction worker, crane driver...). However, Tran Dinh Thang still had a passion for the round ball.

Efforts pay off

Tran Dinh Thang (far left, front row) when he was playing for Quang Nam. Photo: FBNV

It was thought that Tran Dinh Thang's football career had officially ended at the most vigorous age (24 - 26 years old). Surprisingly, at the beginning of the 2017 season, Tran Dinh Thang returned to Phu Dong's shirt, to the surprise of many people. And since then, the right-back position of the Thanh Tri home team has often been held by Tran Dinh Thang.

Witnessing his strong playing style, not afraid of collisions and rhythmic attack and defense like a machine on the right wing, his teammates gave Tran Dinh Thang the nickname "Antonio Valencia of Nghe An". Looking at Tran Dinh Thang playing, not many people believe that this player once almost retired because of a very serious injury.

Recalling what he had been through, Tran Dinh Thang sadly said: "I admit that I was really unlucky. When I was at my peak, I suffered a serious injury and almost had to retire from my football career very early. Luckily, I did not give up and surrender to fate, so I have achieved the results I have now. But I cannot not try, because for me, football is life."

When talking about Tran Dinh Thang, many of his teammates believe that if he had not suffered a serious injury, the player from Quynh Luu would have reached a higher level. Unfortunately, life has no "if" and Tran Dinh Thang had to be satisfied with what he has at Phu Dong. It is known that the contract between Tran Dinh Thang and the Thanh Tri team will expire at the end of the 2022 season.

Hopefully, Tran Dinh Thang will continue to play excellently, contributing to helping Phu Dong achieve success, specifically a ticket to play in the V.League arena. Up to now, the team led by coach Nguyen Trung Kien is sitting comfortably in 4th place on the 2021 National First Division rankings, after 6 matches played. Don't forget, Phu Dong is just a rookie in this year's First Division./.