Looking back at V.League 2022 and the early transfer windows.

It's a new season, continuing with renewed vigor from successful teams like Hanoi FC, Hai Phong, and Binh Dinh; newly promoted teams like Khanh Hoa and Public Security; and teams that continue to receive strong investment for "upgrading" like Nam Dinh.Lam River, Nghe An...In contrast, there is the sadness of a "broken team" for Saigon FC and its players; another team continues to leave the V-League like Quang Ninh last season; and the fate of the former U19 stars of Hoang Anh Gia Lai after their contracts for the 2022 and 2023 seasons expire, after a season of complete failure, with a promising career now turning into utter disappointment.

Thai Ba Sang, the weakest link in SLNA's defense. Photo: VFF

Those were the months leading up to the final battle of the 2022 AFF Cup under the guidance of "the wizard" Park Hang-seo. The stars who had followed the South Korean coach from the 2018 Changzhou tournament, the 2019 Asian Games, the 2018 and 2020 AFF Cups, the 30th and 31st SEA Games… were called up to compete and reclaim the championship from their rival Thailand.

Hope has been rekindled for veteran Trong Hoang after a long period of injury treatment and his recent return to the team in the final rounds with Song Lam Nghe An. Hope is also being rekindled for Van Quyet, Hai Huy, Ngoc Quang… after their brilliant performances for Hanoi FC and Hai Phong last season. Hope is also being given to the U19 players called up, such as Duy Cuong, Dinh Duy, Thanh Nhan, Van Khang… as they are the potential successors for the future rise of Vietnamese football, alongside Thanh Binh, Viet Anh… who are becoming increasingly mature in the national team in recent intense matches.

In addition, there's the absence of familiar names like Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong, who were once part of the national team, due to both injuries and poor form. This isn't just a personal, temporary issue for a promising player, once highly rated and praised by the media, but also a story of a generation of players who received thorough, systematic training, played and contributed, but played in a team lacking ambition, goals, and full of loyalty. As a result, this generation of excellent players won titles with the national team but languished at the club level, only realizing it when they were in the final stages of their careers (at the age of 28 or 29), and now is the time for them to reflect and make decisive decisions for their remaining years.

Foreign player Olaha is gradually regaining his form, promising to bring positive results for SLNA. Photo: Duc Anh

At the grassroots level, the qualifying and final rounds of the U21 national championship are currently underway. If they achieve positive results, many players will advance directly to the U23 team next season (like Van Duc and Xuan Manh at Song Lam Nghe An did in 2018), be considered for promotion to the first team, or be loaned out to play in the V-League in 2023, marking the beginning of their professional careers. However, remember that achievements in grassroots football are only a foundation, a starting point. What's important is success in professional football, in the V-League, and with the national teams. That's a path not everyone can follow to the end, and it's even more difficult for those with established reputations.

Currently, teams are quietly honing their skills and recruiting players, including Vietnamese expats and foreign players. After securing their place in the league, Nam Dinh received a significant financial boost for high-profile signings in the early transfer window. Interestingly, while Song Lam Nghe An used to bring in key players like Van Dung and Quoc Trung to improve their team, there's now a reverse trend: Song Lam players are expected to flood Thien Truong Stadium with players like Manh Hung, Van Tu, Khac Ngoc, Nguyen Manh, and reportedly even Van Khanh? Last season, talented players from all over flocked to the team after Quang Ninh disbanded; this season, Saigon FC players will also spread out to various places. Those who find opportunities in the early transfer window will be lucky, while those who go to the midday or afternoon market will only find spoiled or wasted players.

This illustrates that Vietnamese football is currently in a period of transition, with the tide turning to where things stand. There will be a very strong team with a host of stars forming the core of the national team, and many teams that can only afford to nurture a few stars as their leading players, as is the age-old rule of domestic and international football.