The marks of the player from Nghe An who is playing for QNK. Quang Nam

(Baonghean.vn) - Goalkeeper Pham Van Cuong's path to becoming a professional footballer has been filled with hardships. Having had to leave the ball and gloves behind to continue his studies, the boy from Nghe An is now the number 1 goalkeeper of Quang Nam and a member of the national team.

Pham Van Cuong was born in Hung Nguyen (Nghe An) in a family where his father was a volleyball player. However, Cuong did not follow his father's career but chose to become a goalkeeper. Luckily for this goalkeeper born in 1990, his family is very passionate about sports and always supports their children to follow this path.

At the age of 13, Cuong went to Vinh city to take the entrance exam for the Military Zone 4 football team's gifted class. His sensitivity, jumping ability, and ability to judge situations convinced the teachers. However, his height was a weakness that made him lose confidence. After 3 years, Cuong was sent back because he was too short compared to the standard. With no other choice, Pham Van Cuong was forced to return to school and continue his studies.

Then, in the blink of an eye, 3 years later, Cuong had become a tall guy like a pole. During this time, he still diligently played and practiced football, constantly nurturing the ambition to return to football. Right after graduating from high school, he was once again trained at the Military Region 4 team. In 2009, an important turning point in the young man's career appeared. Due to the lack of a goalkeeper, Coach Vu Quang Bao added Pham Van Cuong to the first team.

Halfway through that season, the Military Zone 4 Club was moved to Ho Chi Minh City and renamed Navibank Saigon. It seemed like this was a new page in his career and that of his teammates, because before that, the Military team had faced many difficulties.

Footballer Hung Nguyen's dream of playing for the national team has come true. Photo: FBNV

But then, the bank unit Navibank announced the dissolution of the team. And this was also an unforgettable milestone in the career of this goalkeeper. Alone, unknown and without much experience, the 23-year-old goalkeeper went down to the First Division to play for Binh Dinh Club. Here, Van Cuong easily shone and won the starting position for the first time in his career.

Every effort brought results, and opportunity finally came to Van Cuong. In the First Division that year, his old teacher Vu Quang Bao was also leading Quang Nam to prepare for the 2014 V.League promotion campaign. The teacher from Nghe An of course could not ignore the ability of his former student and immediately brought him to the team as soon as the season ended.

In the first few years of returning to V.League, facing new pressures made Van Cuong face many difficulties and could not gain the full trust of the coaches after 14 times wearing gloves. However, in the 2015 season, Pham Van Cuong was the number 1 choice for the goalkeeper position of Quang Nam team with 25 starting matches.

After the 2016 season, despite having to compete with experienced goalkeeper Minh Nhut, Van Cuong was still retained, while Minh Nhut was given the opportunity to leave the team.

Not letting down the trust of his coaches, the 27-year-old goalkeeper has played excellently in 24/24 matches since the beginning of the 2017 season, contributing greatly to the No. 1 achievement in the V.League rankings at this time and standing before a great opportunity with Quang Nam to be crowned in the highest tournament of Vietnamese football.

Goalkeeper Pham Van Cuong has an ideal height. Photo: FBNV

Instat player data analysis and statistics software ranked Cuong at number 4 out of 14 players (above Nguyen Manh and Tuan Linh of the Vietnam National Team). And that is one of the reasons why Coach Park Hang Seo included him in the national team's training list, preparing for the match against Afghanistan in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.

The goalkeeper from Nghe An excitedly shared: "When I received the notice of being called up to the national team, I was very happy. My efforts have been recognized. In the future, I will try harder to not disappoint the trust of the teachers as well as the fans."

Pham Van Cuong is 27 years old, has entered the peak of his talent. Recently, Quang Nam Club decided to retain their goalkeeper with a 3-year contract. Overcoming many ups and downs, Pham Van Cuong's career has now entered a new phase that promises much glory./.

Trung Kien