The mark of young striker Song Lam Nghe An in Vietnam U17 team

Le Dinh Long Vu plays in the match between Vietnam U17 and Thailand U17 in the 2023 AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers. Photo: Nhu Dat

Promising striker

We met Le Dinh Long Vu at a small cafe near the headquarters of Song Lam Nghe An Club, when this striker had just returned from the U17 Asian qualifiers. Vu is currently a member of the Song Lam Nghe An youth team. I was quite surprised when Vu did not drink any drinks in the cafe, but only asked for a glass of water. "I only drink water. Other drinks are not good for athletes" - Vu said.

Water is the main drink of many big stars in the world of football. The clearest example is that in a press conference, Ronaldo brushed aside all the carbonated drinks on the table and only used a bottle of mineral water. And Vu, although still very young, the U17 Vietnam player is highly conscious of maintaining his health to develop his career.

Vu began to talk about his journey to U17 Vietnam. In 2020, Le Dinh Long Vu joined the U15 Song Lam Nghe An team to participate in the National U15 Tournament. Before that, Vu was assigned to play as a right-back. But the dream of this striker born in 2006 was to always play as an attacking player. The opportunity came to Vu when, in a pre-tournament training match with the U15 Hong Linh Ha Tinh team, a right midfielder of U15 Song Lam Nghe An did not play well. Therefore, Vu was promoted by the U15 coaching staff to play in this position. "In that match, I performed quite well, had many breakthroughs and assists. So from then on, the teachers arranged for me to play in this position," Vu recalled.

Le Dinh Long Vu's celebration after the U17 Vietnam striker scored against U17 Thailand in the third match of the 2023 AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers. Photo: Nhu Dat

In the U15 tournament, although the Nghe An team only stopped at the semi-finals, Vu left a strong impression on experts. In that tournament, the attacks of U15 Song Lam Nghe An all started from the right wing. And almost all of the goals of U15 Nghe An were scored through the feet of Le Dinh Long Vu.

Vu also said that at the 2020 National U15 tournament, he played quite well and was therefore called by coach Hoang Anh Tuan to the Vietnam U16 team.

Joining the U16 Vietnam team is an opportunity for Le Dinh Long Vu to develop his football skills more comprehensively. Because after joining the national team, Vu was able to go to Germany to attend a training session with the country's top clubs.

Le Dinh Long Vu's strengths are brought into play when this player is arranged to play as a midfielder or winger. Photo: Nhu Dat

At each club such as Dortmund, Borussia Monchengladbach, Eintracht Frankfurt or FC Cologne, there were extremely useful experiences and more football knowledge for Vu and his teammates.

“At each club, we had 1 week to learn and practice with them. I remember the training trip to Eintracht Frankfurt the most, where coach Nicolai Adam provided U16 Vietnam with a lot of knowledge such as high pressing, counter-attacking, moving without the ball... Through that, we have grown up a lot.”

The 2023 AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers held in Vietnam is a tournament in which Le Dinh Long Vu has somewhat affirmed his talent in the eyes of fans. In particular, in the final match against Thailand U17, the player born in 2006 played explosively, contributing greatly to the 3-0 victory for Vietnam U17. Not only did he have many fast breakthroughs on the right wing, launching many dangerous crosses for his teammates, but the number 16 of the Vietnam team also had smart moves without the ball, thereby doubling the gap for the Vietnam team. The 3-0 victory over the Thais helped Le Dinh Long Vu and his teammates win tickets to the final round of the 2023 AFC U17 Championship.

The lightning-fast runs, the skillful dribbling, the tricky shots… of Le Dinh Long Vu do not come naturally. They are the result of the daily efforts of the midfielder from Song Lam Nghe An.

In my opinion, no one can become successful without hard work. I think that hard work and strict living are the stepping stones to success.

Le Dinh Long Vu

Le Dinh Long Vu's skillful and fast dribble past the goalkeeper of U17 Thailand, scoring a goal to double the gap for U17 Vietnam, in the 2023 AFC U17 Championship Qualifiers. Photo: Nhu Dat

Journey to Song Lam Nghe An

Le Dinh Long Vu was born into a family that loved football in Thach Ha - Ha Tinh. Vu had a talent for playing football since he was young and participated in the Ha Tinh Children's Football Tournament. QAfter this tournament, the scouts of Song Lam Nghe An really liked Vu's playing style, so they convinced his family to let the player born in 2006 join Song Lam Nghe An. Vu's family was very supportive of him pursuing a professional football career. Faced with two choices, either playing for the Ha Tinh training center or training in Nghe An, Vu decided to choose Song Lam Nghe An to study.

“I think Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center is the ideal place to realize my dream of playing professional football. Moreover, Nghe An and Ha Tinh both drink the same Lam River water. Therefore, I decided to go to Vinh to study,” Vu said.

At the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center, Le Dinh Long Vu is known as a modern midfielder. In addition to possessing outstanding speed, the player born in 2006 is also known as a midfielder with good football skills with both feet. Vu shared: “At first, I was only right-footed, but in a match when participating in the Children's tournament, I dislocated the nail on my right foot. Because I was determined to get on the field, I decided to spend 2 days practicing with my left foot alone. In the end, I was able to play football with both feet quite well. This is probably my strength that helps me kick the ball in many positions.”

Long Vu's ability to play offensively is quite effective. However, when he reached the U13 age group, because the Song Lam Nghe An youth team lacked defenders, the coaches decided to bring Vu back to play in this position.

Le Dinh Long Vu in the U17 Song Lam Nghe An jersey. Photo: Chung Le

Although it was not his forte, Vu always tried his best to complete the tasks assigned by the coaches. That year, U13 Song Lam Nghe An won the national U13 championship. Vu played in the center-back position and left an impression by keeping the home team with the fewest goals conceded among the teams participating in the tournament.

However, the U17 Vietnam player always wants to maximize his potential, and playing as a striker or midfielder is the goal that Vu always strives for. His efforts have helped the player born in 2006 realize that dream. Vu became the most impressive right midfielder at the 2020 National U15 tournament.

The achievements of Le Dinh Long Vu at the youth team levels are not too great, but with a player who always has a high awareness in developing his career, fans on both banks of the Lam River have the right to hope for a bright future for the Nghe An football star.