Le Dinh Long Vu and his mark at the Southeast Asian U23 Tournament

In the second round match of the 2024 National U19 Qualifiers, U19 Song Lam Nghe An won 2-1 against U19 SHB Da Nang. This match is of key significance, deciding the ticket to the final round of the Nghe team. Because after that victory, U19 Song Lam Nghe An almost completed the goal of passing the qualifying round.

Notably in this match, the young star of Nghe An football - Le Dinh Long Vu shone with the opening goal for U19 Song Lam Nghe An. The goal was started after defender Bui Thanh Duc dribbled the ball down the left wing and then passed it back inside. With his sensitivity, Long Vu penetrated the penalty area, then skillfully kicked the ball with his left foot, forcing the SHB Da Nang goalkeeper to pick the ball out of the net despite his great efforts. That goal contributed to helping U19 Song Lam Nghe An win 3 points against the Han River team.

Not only scoring in the match against SHB Da Nang, Long Vu also played the role of soul in the attack ofU19 Song Lam Nghe An. In order to avoid the possibility of being predicted by the opponent, coach Nguyen Huy Hoang let Long Vu play as a free midfielder. Depending on each situation, the player from Ha Tinh can be flexible in his movements to become a right midfielder, or a left midfielder, or a shuttle midfielder. With his thinking and skillful ball handling ability, Long Vu has sparked many sharp attacks of Nghe An U19. If he had been luckier, in the confrontation with SHB Da Nang U19, Long Vu and his teammates could have scored many more goals for Song Lam Nghe An U19.

Long Vu shared: “In the past matches in the 2024 National U19 qualifying round, I felt that I had shown quite good form in the second leg against SHB Da Nang. I am very happy because I contributed to helping the home team put one foot in the final round of the 2024 National U19 Tournament”.

After 6 matches in the 2024 National U19 qualifying round, Long Vu was able to play in 5 matches. Only in the match against the weakest team in the group, U19 Quang Ngai, coach Huy Hoang did not put the player born in 2006 on the field. It is understandable because the coaching staff of U19 Nghe An wants to keep this player for the important matches that follow. In 5 appearances, Long Vu scored 4 goals, in which the player born in 2006 scored a hat-trick in the opening match of the 2024 National U19 qualifying round, when U19 Song Lam Nghe An met U19 Quang Ngai. Although Long Vu did not score any goals in the remaining matches, he was the player who played a role in creating the play for U19 Nghe An. Currently, Long Vu is considered one of the most important strikers of U19 Song Lam Nghe An.

The midfielder born in 2006 shared: “In the past stages of this year's season, we have played hard and soon set one foot in the final round of the 2024 National U19 Tournament. However, in the coming time, we need to play more cohesively and effectively. In this season, I set a goal to be determined to go with Nghe An U19 to the final match.”

Looking back at 2023, it can be seen that Long Vu has achieved very important milestones. In particular, the player born in 2006 participated for the first time in the Vietnam U23 team competing in the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Tournament. In this tournament, although he has only just turned 17, Long Vu has been put on the field twice by coach Hoang Anh Tuan. Specifically, in the match between Vietnam U23 and the Philippines, Long Vu played in the official lineup. The match then ended with a score of 1-0 in favor of Vietnam U23.

Notably, in the final match against U23 Indonesia, Le Dinh Long Vu was substituted from the bench. During the minutes on the field, the young midfielder from Song Lam Nghe An created many difficulties for the opponent's defense. Then, U23 Vietnam won against U23 Indonesia in the 11m penalty shootout.

The Southeast Asian U23 Championship with U23 Vietnam is Long Vu's first title at the national team level.

Also in 2023, Long Vu's name became known to many audiences when he was included in the list of 60 potential players born in 2006 around the world voted by a British newspaper. Le Dinh Long Vu is the only representative from Southeast Asia to be included.

In his introduction to Le Dinh Long Vu on the Guardian, journalist John Duerden wrote: "He made a big impression at the U17 Asian tournament, so much so that he was called up to the U23 team. Long Vu's speed, small body, ability to dribble and cross the ball into the penalty area has made many people compare him to Phil Foden. Young Vietnamese players often do not progress as much as expected, but Long Vu can go very far if properly trained."

It can be said that the road to becoming a football star still has many obstacles that Long Vu needs to overcome. Hopefully, the player born in 2006 will not be satisfied with the successes he has achieved, and will try harder to soon affirm his value at Song Lam Nghe An.