Captain of U13 Song Lam Nghe An and the dream of becoming a professional player

Cao Huy Hoang was born in 2012 in Nghia Hanh commune, Nghe An province (Tan Huong commune, former Tan Ky district). Since his elementary school years, Hoang has shown his passion for football when his father let him practice at a community football class in the commune. “At that time, I simply thought of letting my son go out to play to improve his health. But as time went on, I realized more and more that Hoang had talent. He observed quickly, kicked the ball hard and was especially eager to learn from those around him,” Hoang’s father shared.

At the most prestigious playground in the province for children, the outstanding performance of young Cao Huy Hoang with his aggressive playing style, good technique and quick ability to read the game quickly caught the attention of scouts from the Song Lam Nghe An youth football training center.

In 2022, at the age of 10, Cao Huy Hoang was admitted to the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center - one of the leading youth football training centers in the country. It was not only the first milestone marking the journey of pursuing his passion, but also a major turning point in the life of the boy from the countryside of Tan Ky. From here, the door to a professional football career officially opened for Hoang, along with months of serious training, discipline and many challenges.

After only a short time of getting used to the formal training environment, Hoang quickly scored points in the eyes of the coaches thanks to his progressive spirit, tactical awareness and ability to adapt well to high training intensity. In Hoang, the coaches not only saw a hard-working student, but also a young player with a clear football mindset, always knowing how to listen and improve himself after each training session. It was his rapid growth in both physical and technical aspects that helped Hoang secure a starting position in the team.U13 Song Lam Nghe An.

Therefore, it is not surprising that by 2025, Hoang became an important pillar of the SLNA U13 team, participating in most matches in the qualifying round and the final round of the National Youth Football Tournament. During that journey, although not possessing an outstanding physique, Hoang made a strong impression in the role of "pace keeper" in the midfield - a quiet but indispensable player in every tactical scheme.

Playing as a defensive midfielder, Hoang does not often score goals but plays an extremely important role in organizing the game, regulating the tempo of the match and supporting the defense from a distance. He is the bridge between the defense and the attack, always present at hot spots to compete, recover the ball and launch attacks. Not only completing his silent task well, Hoang also left his mark with two decisive assists in the tournament: one for Duc Anh to score against U13 PVF, and one for Thanh Tai to open the score against U13 Hong Linh Ha Tinh. Those delicate passes not only brought goals but also demonstrated a rare tactical vision and composure in a player who is only 13 years old.

With his persistent contributions, Hoang has made an important contribution to helping U13 Song Lam Nghe An advance to the final of the 2025 National Youth Football Tournament - a memorable milestone in his still very young career.

Commenting on his student, the head coach of U13 Song Lam Nghe An - Mr. Nguyen Van Vinh, shared: “Hoang possesses all the qualities of a leader: calm, enthusiastic, able to organize and always be a spiritual support for his teammates. Throughout the season, Hoang has maintained a stable performance, with the ability to read situations well, maintain a reasonable team distance and is especially sharp in recovering the ball. From being trusted with the captain's armband to the role of 'silent builder' in important matches, Hoang is gradually asserting himself - quietly but effectively".

In contrast to his strong and brave image on the field, in real life Hoang is an affectionate, sociable and sharing boy. At home, Hoang loves his younger brother very much, lives maturely and knows how to care for his relatives. Not too naughty but always active and lively - it is this friendliness that makes him easy to integrate and is always loved by friends and teachers. Although highly appreciated in the sports environment, in the eyes of his family, Hoang is still a shy boy who needs to be encouraged every day. "I don't put too much emphasis on my son becoming a star or anything. I just hope he can live with passion, practice discipline and grow up every day" - Hoang's father confided.

From the perspective of a coach, the head coach of U13 Song Lam Nghe An affirmed that Hoang is a player with great potential. “He has passion, good tactical thinking and a clear spirit of progress. However, the road ahead is still very long. To become a professional player, Hoang needs to continue to improve his physical strength, enhance his ability to compete and cultivate many other professional skills” – Head coach Nguyen Van Vinh said.

At the age of 13, it is still too early to judge his talent. But with his seriousness in training and his fiery competitive spirit on the field, Cao Huy Hoang has initially won the hearts of those who love and follow youth football.

From the countryside of Nghia Hanh to the common roof of the Nghe An youth football training center, Huy Hoang's journey has just begun. However, each step - even though slow - shows the persistent effort and ambition to reach far of a promising defensive midfielder. With good organizational thinking, impressive ability to read the game and disciplined fighting spirit, Hoang promises to be an important link in the midfield - and a name to look forward to on the path of professional football in the future.