Former SLNA goalkeeper Nguyen Viet Nam: A life rolling with the ball

Born in 1983 in Nam Dan district, Nguyen Viet Nam is a product of SLNA's training center. Although he was promoted to the first team quite early, this goalkeeper's career path was not as smooth as his senior from Quynh Luu - former goalkeeper Duong Hong Son. Before Duong Hong Son joined Hanoi Club (formerly known as Hanoi T&T) at the end of 2007, Nguyen Viet Nam often had to "wear out his pants" on the bench at the Nghe An team.

Former goalkeeper Nguyen Viet Nam in SLNA shirt. Photo: Minh Tu

However, at the national team level, Nguyen Viet Nam still had the honor of being "watched" by coach Alfred Riedl. Nguyen Viet Nam was one of the faces that the Austrian strategist summoned to the U23 Vietnam squad, preparing for the 2005 SEA Games. "The joy was short-lived", having just "wet his feet" with his teammates, Nguyen Viet Nam was diagnosed by doctors at the U23 Vietnam squad with chronic gastritis and a lack of calcium in the blood.

Having to say goodbye to U23 Vietnam before the 2005 SEA Games, Nguyen Viet Nam also had to face the risk of retiring at the age of 22. After a long period of treatment, Nguyen Viet Nam's physical condition was no longer the same as before. Rarely, Nguyen Viet Nam could ensure 100% physical strength for a long time. That was the main reason why he could not compete for the number 1 position in SLNA's goal with Duong Hong Son, Pham Duc Anh...

Coach Nguyen Viet Nam (3rd from left) in the coaching staff of Ba Ria Vung Tau Club. Photo: FBNV

At the end of 2008, the contract between Nguyen Viet Nam and SLNA officially expired. Receiving an invitation from the Board of Directors of Hoa Phat Ha Noi, the former goalkeeper from Nam Dan decided to pack his bags and go to the capital to seek new opportunities. At Hang Day Stadium, Nguyen Viet Nam played very well. The achievements of Hoa Phat Ha Noi in winning the runner-up position in the 2009 National First Division and reaching the semi-finals of the 2010 National Cup were largely due to the former SLNA goalkeeper.

At the end of the 2011 season, Hoa Phat Ha Noi was dissolved and Nguyen Viet Nam was welcomed by many teams in the V.League. However, when faced with the offer to "reunite" with SLNA from former coach Nguyen Huu Thang, Nguyen Viet Nam refused all of them to return to Vinh Stadium. However, the goalkeeper from Nam Dan only stayed at SLNA for 2 years, with fierce competition from his junior Tran Nguyen Manh.

Moving to Thanh Hoa Club at the beginning of the 2014 season, Nguyen Viet Nam's performance has gone "to the other side of the slope". Being on the field as a goalkeeper 3 times is what Nguyen Viet Nam has achieved in the Thanh Hoa team's jersey. When the 2014 season officially ended, Nguyen Viet Nam also said goodbye to his football career.

After a period of time away from the football field, the former goalkeeper of SLNA, Hoa Phat Ha Noi and Thanh Hoa Club decided to open an auto garage. Due to unfavorable business, Nguyen Viet Nam had to close the shop, then together with his old teammate Nguyen Hong Tien (former defender of SLNA and Ha Noi Club) led the newly established Ba Ria Vung Tau Club to participate in the 2017 National Third Division.

After 2 years as an assistant to coach Nguyen Hong Tien at Ba Ria Vung Tau Club (2017 - 2018), Nguyen Viet Nam returned to Hanoi to work for a company located in the area. Not long after, the nostalgia for the round ball "tortured" the employee from Uncle Ho's hometown. Recommended by coach Duong Hong Son, Nguyen Viet Nam became a coach at the Hanoi FC Youth Football Training Center. Currently, Nguyen Viet Nam is working as a goalkeeper coach for the Hanoi U21 team.

Don't forget, at BTV Cup 2019, Nguyen Viet Nam was assistant to head coach Duong Hong Son in the Vietnam U20 team, the team that won the runner-up position of the tournament. Nguyen Viet Nam shared: "Only when I put on sportswear, I really feel confident". Perhaps, football is the endless passion of the 37-year-old coach./.