Nguyen Dinh Bac scored a hat-trick and shared an emotional hug of gratitude with his former teacher, Van Sy Son.
After scoring a superb hat-trick against SLNA in V.League Round 20, Nguyen Dinh Bac gave coach Van Sy Son a heartfelt hug, marking the maturation of a great talent.
At the end of the match between Hanoi Police FC and Song Lam Nghe An FC in Round 20 of the V.League, the most noteworthy moment wasn't the scoreline but the situation in the visiting team's technical area. Nguyen Dinh Bac, who had just scored a brilliant hat-trick, didn't choose to celebrate wildly but instead went straight to coach Van Sy Son to give him a warm hug. This is the clearest evidence of the maturity and gratitude of a young star who has weathered many storms.
A superb performance from the new number 9.
The match in round 20 saw Nguyen Dinh Bac in his most explosive form. The striker from Nghe An showed his killer instinct with neat and decisive plays. In the first half, Dinh Bac scored two sharp goals in quick succession after assists from Quang Hai and Stefan Mauk.
In the second half, the young striker continued to trouble the Song Lam Nghe An defense, winning a penalty after being fouled by Nguyen Hoang. He confidently converted the penalty to complete his first hat-trick in his career in Vietnam's top professional league. With 7 goals in just the last 4 matches, Dinh Bac is becoming a solid pillar in Hanoi Police's attack, especially given the injuries to their foreign players.
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Goal | 3 (Hat-trick) |
| Performance in the last 4 matches | 7 goals |
| The resulting construction path | Quang Hai, Stefan Mauk |
| Role | main striker |
Lessons from 'harsh' criticism
To achieve his current remarkable transformation, Dinh Bac had to overcome a challenging psychological period. After shining at the Asian Cup with a goal against Japan in early 2024, the young striker faced criticism regarding his attitude and discipline. Rumors of "star syndrome" and a moment of anger when he kicked an advertising board during V.League Round 15 caused public concern about the future of this talented player.
At that time, coach Van Sy Son – who was then coaching Dinh Bac at Quang Nam Club – chose a harsh method of discipline. He did not hesitate to publicly criticize his student, saying that Dinh Bac was "delusional about his own worth." These were necessary punishments to bring the young striker back to reality.
The maturation of 'ripe rice that knows how to bow its head'
The hug in round 20 was not just a social gesture, but an affirmation of the philosophy of "ripe rice bows its head." Dinh Bac now knows how to control his emotions, focusing on contributing to the team instead of ineffective individual plays. As captain of the Vietnam U23 team in tournaments like the SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asian Championship, he has demonstrated the qualities of a true spiritual leader.
Looking back on the journey so far, it's clear that Coach Van Sy Son's admonition was a crucial catalyst. Despite being in an opposing position in this match, Coach Son couldn't hide his pride at witnessing his former pupil score and mature. This reconciliation is not only good for Dinh Bac personally but also a positive sign for Vietnamese football, preserving a quality talent for the future.
