Pham Xuan Manh - from poor boy to rich player

Poor childhood

Pham Xuan ManhBorn in Minh Thanh commune, Yen Thanh district. The player born in 1996 comes from a farming family. Manh's childhood was more difficult than his peers, going to school one day, and working in the fields the other day to herd buffalo, cut grass, and help his parents.

Manh’s family was once considered the poorest in the commune. As a child, the former Song Lam Nghe An player had to live in a dilapidated house, with leaks and drafts.

However, Xuan Manh still had a strong love for football. The boy from the rice fields soon revealed his innate talent for playing football. In 2007, Manh was selected by the coach of the Yen Thanh Children's team to participate in the Nghe An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament. "That day when joining the district's children's football team, mother and son brought food together to Vinh. We had no money, when we arrived in Vinh, we had only 10,000 VND left. His mother had to buy him a piece of bread to fill his stomach. The son gave it to his mother, the mother gave it to him, remembering that scene, I don't think Manh would have made it this far," Mr. Pham Xuan Linh, Xuan Manh's father, recalled.

Despite the lack, Xuan Manh played explosively, thereby helping Yen Thanh Children's team finish as runner-up of the tournament.

And perhaps it is not too much to say that it was the Nghe An Newspaper Cup that changed Xuan Manh's life.

The player born in 1996 caught the eye of scouts at the Song Lam Nghe An youth football training center. However, to have money for Manh to pursue his football career, his family had to sell their buffalo, the most valuable asset in the house. And this is what motivated Xuan Manh to always strive and overcome difficulties to become a good player.

The turning point in Xuan Manh’s career came when he was promoted to the first team of Song Lam Nghe An. This was also an important factor that helped him be called up by coach Park Hang-seo to the Vietnam U23 team to participate in the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

"Million dollar" player

At the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Xuan Manh was just a substitute for Van Hau on the left wing of Vietnam U23. Although he was only the second choice, Xuan Manh completed his task excellently when trusted by coach Park Hang-seo. He started from the quarter-finals to the finals, contributing greatly to helping Vietnam U23 win the runner-up position at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

After that prestigious Silver medal, a new horizon opened up for Xuan Manh. The reputation of the player from the rice fields is known to many people and now he has become a football “millionaire” after big contracts.

Specifically, when sponsor Tan Long took over Song Lam Nghe An, Xuan Manh received a generous signing bonus, estimated at about 8 billion in 3 years. In early 2024, Xuan Manh is rumored to continue receiving a 9 billion signing bonus from Hanoi FC, along with a salary of 60 million VND/month, not to mention bonuses.

Currently, the player from the rice fields owns a 3-storey private house in a luxury urban area in Vinh city. In addition, in early 2021, right after the wedding, Xuan Manh and his wife also received many congratulations when they bought a billion-dollar car. In 2023, Xuan Manh continued to buy another car for his wife.

Previously, Xuan Manh also built a large, spacious house with full amenities for his parents in Yen Thanh.

"I have to thank my difficult childhood, because it created a great motivation for me. If I hadn't risen up, I would probably continue to work as a farmer or a worker somewhere. To be honest, if I had good skills, I would have had a good income. Don't dream of good things when you are just an average player" - Xuan Manh shared.

Back to the story, Asean Cup 2024, where Xuan Manh just won the championship with the Vietnamese team. With his own determination, the player from the rice fields returned to the team and took the number 1 position in coach Kim Sang-sik's table. The defender born in 1996 showed brilliant performance, contributing greatly to helping the Vietnamese team step up to the throne for the third time at the biggest football tournament in the region.

And after winning the ASEAN Cup 2024, Xuan Manh's assets have continued to increase. Now it is not too much to say that Pham Xuan Manh is one of the richest players in Vietnamese football.

"I constantly strive and learn from coaches, teammates and seniors so that my career can continue to reach new heights" - Xuan Manh said optimistically.