Coach Guus Hiddink: 'Van Hau is like Park Ji-sung'

Doan Van Hau in new SC Heerenveen shirt

On the occasion of the U.22 Vietnam team going to China to play a friendly match with the U.22 of this country, the media asked coach Guus Hiddink (who is leading the U.22 China team) questions related to Doan Van Hau - a 20-year-old player who is about to go to the Netherlands to play.

Mr. Hiddink said: “I know that Van Hau has signed a contract with SC Heerenveen. It is a good environment for him. I don’t know much about Van Hau but I think it is very good for a young Vietnamese player to find an ideal environment to develop, not only for the individual player. Of course, European football is very harsh so it requires Van Hau to make a lot of effort.

Van Hau's case reminds me of Korean player Park Ji-sung when he joined PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, which I used to coach. Park Ji-sung went to the Netherlands to play at the age of 22, also in the same youth group as Van Hau now, and has achieved remarkable success. Park Ji-sung is the first Korean player to play in the Netherlands and also the first Korean player to play in the Premier League. With the Dutch Premier League, Park Ji-sung is the leading flag for many other Asian players to look up to."

Earlier this week, Van Hau will apply for a work visa in the Netherlands and could leave in the next few days. SC Heerenveen has arranged for him a private apartment and an Audi car. Club technical director Gerry Hamstra said the coaching staff will let Hau practice on the field as soon as he arrives.

Mr. Gerry Hamstra said: “There is no company in Vietnam that will pay Hau’s salary. SC Heerenveen Club has to pay Hanoi Club to borrow Van Hau. We are looking for sponsors to collect money to cover the cost of this deal.” Meanwhile, Hanoi Club President Nguyen Trong Chien revealed for the first time that Hau’s salary is 450,000 euros/year (nearly 11.5 billion VND).