Ahead is the sky

(Baonghean) - Although Cao Xuan Thang (older brother) and Cao Xuan Thang (younger brother) have the same first and last name, these two SLNA players belong to different generations. Veteran center-back Cao Xuan Thang, from Quy Hop district, retired after leaving QNK.Quang Nam, while Cao Xuan Thang, from Hoang Mai town, has just started his career...

Cao Xuan Thang was born in 1993 in a poor farming family in Quynh Luu district (now separated, belonging to Hoang Mai town). Due to his modest height, many people advised Thang not to choose the career of "shorts and jersey". However, the passion had seeped into his blood, after making an impression in the village tournaments, Xuan Thang joined the selection class for the "oven" of Song Lam and was officially signed a contract.

Although not really outstanding in terms of expertise, what people recognized in Xuan Thang was his diligence and competitive spirit. Thanks to that, Xuan Thang matured early, wearing the U.17 SLNA shirt to play in the national tournament since he was only 16 years old. Making a name for himself quite early was also an important stepping stone for Xuan Thang to be promoted to many different positions and jobs later on.

Player Xuan Thang (23) in the match between SLNA and Quang Nam at Vinh Stadium. Photo: Duc Dung

When Cao Xuan Thang made his mark in the youth tournaments, at this time in the SLNA team, there was also a senior named Cao Xuan Thang, who played very consistently in the center-back position. According to the midfielder from Hoang Mai, at that time, he only wished to join the first team and have success like Cao Xuan Thang. Dreaming like that, Xuan Thang continued to strive to assert himself. At the age of 19, thanks to his maturity and good expertise, Xuan Thang and some other seniors in the first team such as Nhu Thuat were lent by SLNA leaders to Binh Dinh to play in the First Division. Also during this time, Xuan Thang (younger brother) was called to the U.19 Vietnam team to participate in some friendly tournaments abroad.

In 2012, Cao Xuan Thang (younger brother) played relatively successfully, but after that, because Binh Dinh had no goals, the team was at high risk of disbanding, so Xuan Thang had to pack his bags and return to Nghe An to continue training with the youth team. Xuan Thang's only mark in 2013 was probably the U.21 International Championship in the U.21 Vietnam jersey. It wasn't until the end of the first phase of the 2014 season, when XSKT.Can Tho needed to recruit people, that Xuan Thang found an opportunity. Playing regularly in the matches of this Mekong Delta team, Xuan Thang contributed significantly to helping his team become professional that season.

Playing well in the First Division, Xuan Thang was then called up to the reserve team of U.23 Vietnam, preparing for the Asian Games in Korea. Although his name was not on the shortlist, being able to train with his seniors in the team was a necessary experience, helping Xuan Thang to mature more.

Returning from U.23 Vietnam, Xuan Thang actively trained to be promoted to the SLNA first team. At this time, the Nghe An team had many good midfielders and Xuan Thang thought that he would have to leave on loan. However, coach Quang Truong thought differently. The person who replaced coach Huu Thang in the position of "captain" of SLNA saw Xuan Thang's ability and decided to keep him and let familiar names like The Nhat, Van Manh, Van Khanh... go.

Playing in the V.League for the first time, the pressure is huge, but the more Xuan Thang plays, the more mature he becomes. From being a reserve for Van Vinh, Xuan Thang has now filled in and since the second half, has always been in the starting lineup of the Nghe An team. Xuan Thang's strengths are noted to be calm and very confident in playing. Although he does not have an ideal height, Thang is skillful with very smart passes. In the recent away match against Thanh Hoa, Xuan Thang scored for the first time in the V.League, with an extremely classy header. With what Xuan Thang has shown, SLNA's coaching board is also considered to have made the right decision to keep Xuan Thang.

This 2015 season, along with Ngoc Toan, Xuan Thang is considered a new discovery of SLNA. That is also a very happy thing, because after this season, there are 6 Nghe An players whose contracts with their hometown team have expired and no one else, the young generation must shoulder the responsibility. Everything has just begun but now, looking at the senior Cao Xuan Thang, the junior player with the same name Cao Xuan Thang can also be proud, because he has known how to overcome and has more or less created a position for himself with a bright future.

Vinh Liem