Former center back Cao Xuan Thang: 'Late blooming flower' of Nghe An football

At the age of 16, Cao Xuan Thang carried a bag containing a few old clothes and traveled more than 120 km from the mountainous district of Quy Hop to Vinh city to take the entrance exam for the SLNA training center. However, the former player nicknamed Thang "cow head" "slipped on a banana peel" and had to train completely on his own.

Cao Xuan Thang (yellow shirt) when he was playing for SLNA. Photo: TQ

Not giving up on his dream, Cao Xuan Thang went to his relatives' house to ask for temporary accommodation, and every day walked to the training ground of SLNA's youth teams to "practice" with his teammates of the same age.

With his will and determination, Cao Xuan Thang was recruited by SLNA at the age of 18. This is a worthy reward for the tireless efforts of the former player born in 1982. However, it was not until the 2007 season that Cao Xuan Thang was able to affirm his talent, after playing for LG Hanoi ACB. In that season, the former player from Quy Hop often played alongside former Captain Nguyen Huy Hoang in the central defender position.

SLNA's main lineup in the 2009 season. Photo: FBNV

But before entering the 2008 season, Cao Xuan Thang unexpectedly joined the First Division team Xi Mang Vinakansai Ninh Binh, with a contract worth up to 1.5 billion VND. It was thought that Cao Xuan Thang's farewell to SLNA would be forever, but the surprise happened at the beginning of the next season. In the midst of a central defender crisis, the Nghe An team agreed to spend over 1 billion VND to bring Cao Xuan Thang back to Vinh Stadium. For the first time in history, SLNA recruited an "old man".

Like "chau ve hop pho", Cao Xuan Thang continues to prove his inherent class, especially when standing on the same side with former center back Nguyen Huy Hoang. Perhaps, throughout his football career, Cao Xuan Thang is one of the most compatible partners of Hoang "Can". The championship at the National Cup 2010, thanks in no small part to the former center back born in 1982. Unfortunately, that was also Cao Xuan Thang's first and only title in the jersey of his hometown team.

At the beginning of the 2011 season, the season that SLNA won the V.League, Thang "head bull" unexpectedly joined Hanoi T&T and only 1 year later, Hanoi Club, the old name of Saigon Club. During the period of being under the management of Mr. Hien's teams, Cao Xuan Thang also played for Tay Ninh Club, on loan. No matter which team he played for, the former SLNA player always played with enthusiasm and passion.

Cao Xuan Thang surrounded by Quang Nam fans. Photo: CT

At the end of the 2012 season, Cao Xuan Thang officially joined Quang Nam Club. With his proven class and rich experience, Cao Xuan Thang was assigned the responsibility of captain of the Quang Nam team. Thanks to the excellence of Thang "head bull", the Tam Ky team won the championship in the 2013 National First Division and got a ticket to play in the 2014 V.League. Cao Xuan Thang himself was honored as a hero by the fans of Quang Nam Club.

Quang Nam FC’s promotion to the V.League gave Cao Xuan Thang the opportunity to meet his hometown team again as an opposing player. In his last return to Vinh Stadium, Cao Xuan Thang and his teammates were crushed by the home team SLNA with a score of 6-1 (round 2 of V.League 2014).

Realizing that he could no longer maintain his peak performance, at the end of the 2014 season, Cao Xuan Thang decided to retire from football. Closing the years of wandering with the round ball.

Saying goodbye to his "shorts and jersey" career, Cao Xuan Thang immediately focused on the restaurant business. At one point, the former player from Quy Hop owned a chain of restaurants under the famous My Quang My Son brand in Vinh city, Hanoi capital... After a while, business was not going well, forcing Cao Xuan Thang to temporarily put aside his "second passion".

Since retiring from the football field, Cao Xuan Thang has rarely appeared before the media, except for participating in amateur matches.