Splits - a 'specialty' of Nghe An football field

In search of origin

All SLNA players are proficient in this move, regardless of their position, even the goalkeeper can do it very well when needed. The difference with the SLNA tackle is that the player can stand up immediately to continue fighting for the ball, a technique that is not easy at all. Previously, the central defenders of Nghe An Province often used the "stretching move" which is a variation of the front instep kick, when clearing high ball situations, players like Dinh Dai, Hai "vau", Ha Thinh conveniently stretched their legs straight into the opponent.

Sliding the ball has become a trademark of players who have grown up at SLNA.

Later, this move was often penalized by referees for high foot fouls, so it was only during the time of Thanh Long, Van Luu and Huu Thang that they practiced their signature sliding tackle, lowering their height to fight for the ball. In the early days, Vietnamese football audiences were quite allergic to SLNA defenders' two-footed attacks on opponents, the climax being the red card of defender Tuan "Thao" (now SLNA's deputy coach) on a Hai Quan player at Thong Nhat Stadium in a National Cup. When still playing as a midfielder, Van Luu, midfielders Phi Hung, Van Tien, Duy Ghi, Anh Tuan, Duc Lam also often used this "signature move", SLNA also became a brand name of "cutting nails, cutting iron" at this time.

Huu Thang, who used to play as a central defender at that time, is considered the creator of the "Made in SLNA" tackle that Nghe An defenders often use today. SLNA defenders often put one foot forward, inserted into the joint next to the inside of the ankle, the back foot, in addition to approaching the ball, will try to touch the opponent's heel. At first glance, it seems harmless and legal (if the ball hits) because both feet are close to the grass, but if the opponent does not jump up quickly, it is easy to turn the foot and limp for several weeks.

It resembled a move from the Nhat Nam martial arts style of master Ngo Xuan Binh, which was popular in Vinh at that time. When he was still playing, national team player Hong Son, a player with one of the best individual skills in Vietnam, was still afraid of SLNA defenders when he came to Vinh stadium because of that. Especially, SLNA defenders played in a "grass sliding" style, the first person to jump in and miss was the next person to continue. Once, after Hong Son jumped to avoid 3 such tackles, when he met Van Luu, he had no more strength left.

The most basic characteristic of this tackle is that it does not use all its force (similar to the basic principle of traditional martial arts), so the Nghe An players can stand up and chase the ball immediately after using it. Huu Thang is the one who brought this tackle brand to the Southeast Asian arena and Kiatisak is the player who often has to jump high to avoid this steel defender. Huu Thang is left-footed so he often puts his right foot first, Kiatisak after having to jump high to avoid, falls down and can no longer control the ball.

Level Up

When sitting and talking about life and career with former SLNA players about the characteristics of Nghe An's style of play, talking about the "Made in SLNA" tackle, everyone acknowledged that it was associated with the captain wearing the number 4 shirt. In fact, at that time, in addition to SLNA, other central defenders such as Hong Hai (Lam Dong), Thien Quang (CATPHCM) also applied this tackle but at a lower level. Chuyen said, in the Tiger Cup 1996, in the match between Vietnam and Laos, this central defender number 4 carelessly threw himself to tackle a Laos player from the middle of the field, received a red card, causing the Vietnam team, which was 1-0 down, to have to play with one less player. Fortunately, the Vietnam team later equalized 1-1 thanks to Huynh Duc.

SLNA's young players are inheriting and gradually improving SLNA's traditional sliding tackle.

After the match, Huu Thang and three other players in the main squad were pointed at by the German coach Weigang and asked: “How much did you sell this match for?”. If it weren’t for the intervention of the late team leader To Hien, he would have been sent home. In the end, Huu Thang was allowed to stay to atone for his sins. In the semi-finals, Vietnam played against Thailand. Left-back Tuan “Hue” was continuously outplayed by Kiatisak. The Vietnamese team collapsed in the first 24 minutes, losing 3 goals in a row thanks to Kiatisak and Srithong-in (2 goals).

Huu Thang was brought in by Weigang to play left back, he covered this gap and in the end Vietnam still lost with a score of 2-4 (Hoang Buu and Hong Son scored). But Huu Thang's classy tackling and tenacious playing style were officially recognized by Southeast Asian audiences at the Singapore National Stadium.

After Huu Thang, Huy Hoang, Quoc Vuong and now Minh Duc, Ngoc Hai are the "successors" who have contributed to raising the "Made in SLNA" sliding tackle to a new level. SLNA defenders not only clear the ball but also keep the ball at their feet, not sliding when they are at a disadvantage in the competition but proactively doing it.

Nickname Catcosan Vinh, a long-time follower of Nghe An football, said, “Nghe An people watch SLNA play on the field without seeing the sliding tackle, it’s like a daily meal without eggplant.” However, because of this sliding tackle, many times Nghe An players, players from SLNA’s academy, have gotten into trouble for causing injuries to many players and being condemned by fans.