The Filip Nguyen effect and the resource of overseas Vietnamese players.

The strong capabilities and great ambitions of Hanoi Police FC, along with the Vietnam Football Federation's efforts to strengthen its pool of overseas Vietnamese players, converged at the crucial point of Filip Nguyen, even though many overseas Vietnamese players had previously played in Vietnamese professional football leagues.

Why is Filip Nguyen considered a crucial "highlight"? Because before him, no Vietnamese-born player had such a strong "brand" as the one from the Czech Republic, not even the well-known Filip Nguyen who returned to Vietnam from the US. Furthermore, Filip Nguyen was later "invited" to play for a top V.League team, Hanoi Police, not a less ambitious team like Hai Phong, where Van Lam played, or Ho Chi Minh City, where Phillip Nguyen (from the US) played for more than one season. Most importantly, Filip Nguyen's arrival at Hanoi Police from the Czech Republic coincided with Vietnamese football beginning its process of upgrading towards the World Cup, with numerous resources, including the indispensable talent pool of Vietnamese-born players.

Of course, despite being a goalkeeper with ideal height (1.92m) and having played in top-tier professional football, Filip Nguyen still faced difficulties in the first few matches of the second phase of the 2023 V.League season with Hanoi Police. Filip Nguyen conceded goals repeatedly in matches against opponents like SHB Da Nang, Hanoi FC, and Nam Dinh… but then things gradually stabilized for the championship contender and the new goalkeeper. Then, when Filip Nguyen thrashed Duc Chien in a tense penalty shootout against Viettel, everyone had to acknowledge his true class and talent. Hanoi Police's national championship title was just one draw away, and more importantly, the path to Filip Nguyen's naturalization and becoming a Vietnamese national team player was closer than ever.

This is truly a positive effect, encouraging Vietnamese football to continue attracting overseas Vietnamese players to compete in professional leagues, gradually strengthening the national teams. Vietnamese sports in general, and football in particular, are not choosing the path of mass naturalization like other countries in the region did at the recent SEA Games, such as the Philippine women's football team at the 2023 Women's World Cup and their notable victory. Our correct and sustainable path remains a slow, steady, and reliable approach, utilizing various resources while focusing on improving our own training resources in a professional and modern direction.

The women's three-person basketball team and their first SEA Games gold medal is a good example to learn from. However, it cannot be said that this is a foundation for long-term development because the players are living, studying, and competing in the US, making it extremely difficult to concentrate on and manage them during planned tournaments. The same applies to football if players lack citizenship and are playing abroad…

It is noteworthy that the country's socio-economic development has allowed us to progress rapidly and strongly, integrating with the world, including in sports. Vietnamese sports are gradually accessing world-class facilities, equipment, methods, and experts, producing many high-quality products that are approaching continental and world-class levels. Vietnamese football currently boasts many players with good physique and fitness, such as Van Hau, Thanh Binh, and Viet Anh in the Vietnamese national team; Van Ha and Nam Hai in the U23 team; and many other promising talents. This shows that the gap in physique and fitness in Vietnamese football is changing in a positive direction, and if a team included Filip Nguyen, any existing disparity would gradually improve, truly elevating the level of the sport.

Filip Nguyen, the "highlight" of the Hanoi Police team, is truly flourishing, creating new inspiration not only for the V.League but also for Vietnamese expatriate players all over the world.