Nguyen The Anh - multi-talented goalkeeper

(Baonghean) - Nghe An is the cradle that has produced many excellent goalkeepers for the country's football, and is also the place that has witnessed many successful players in the business world. However, in a comprehensive way, it is difficult for anyone to surpass former goalkeeper Nguyen The Anh - who is currently the goalkeeper coach of the U16 and U22 Vietnam teams.

As the only son in a well-educated family in Vinh City, Nguyen The Anh surprised his parents when he registered for the entrance exam and entered the youth football class of Military Zone 4 Club. At that time, The Anh had just finished 11th grade and his family did not intend for him to pursue a career in football. He had to find every way to get his parents' signatures to successfully pursue football.

He trained at Military Zone 4 as a striker, but just one year later, everything turned 180 degrees when he became a real goalkeeper. By chance, during a time when the club participated in the 1999 all-army tournament, all 3 goalkeepers of the team could not play. In the context of a shortage of players, seeing The Anh's tall and attractive appearance, the coach did not hesitate to give him a pair of gloves to try. What was more surprising was that after only 6 months of playing the role of goalkeeper, The Anh played "like a ghost", from the position of an involuntary goalkeeper, he became the number 1 choice of the team.

In 2000, Nguyen The Anh won the title of Best Goalkeeper of the U21 tournament. Illustrative photo

Step by step affirming his talent in Military Region 4, in 2000, this player born in 1981 was recruited by SLNA and The Anh's first successes also came from here. After winning the U18 championship in 1999 with the generation of players Huy Hoang, Minh Duc..., at the age of 20, The Anh was the champion of the V.League in the 2000 - 2001 season and then the title of Best Goalkeeper of the U21 tournament in 2000 when he and U21 SLNA convincingly won the championship.

After 1 year of training at LG. HNACB on loan, The Anh returned to his hometown team and played a shining role in the 2002-2003 season. He was called up by coach Calisto to the national team to participate in the Tiger Cup 2002. However, it was not until the LG Cup 2003 and the 22nd SEA Games (2003) that the name of goalkeeper The Anh began to be known in the subconscious of domestic football fans under coach Alfred Riedl.

Once a goal-scoring “killer” with very obedient feet, he switched to practicing his hands when becoming a goalkeeper, so The Anh was considered a fairly comprehensive goalkeeper. At that time, The Anh’s football career was on the rise. Rising from the memorable “accident” in the semi-final of the 22nd SEA Games (2003) against Malaysia when he let the ball bounce over his head, as well as the adversity at Dong A Bank afterwards, did not make The Anh lose himself easily. Instead, these days made the Nghe An goalkeeper stronger and more courageous.

With billion-dollar contracts, skyrocketing salaries and bonuses, and a championship with B. Binh Duong, The Anh became a "billionaire" among football players in Vietnam. Not only did he affirm his talent, role in goal, and influence on his teammates, The Anh was also very sensitive to business opportunities. When he was still a player, The Anh invested all his capital into investing in the first artificial turf pitch for rent in Vinh City and Binh Duong.

The Anh's happy family. Photo: Character provided

Anticipating the market demand, The Anh was one of the first Vietnamese players to explore and lay the foundation for this new field. The Anh artificial turf field is 1,000m2 wide in Binh Duong and the artificial turf field cluster in Vinh bring high and stable income. Not stopping at the artificial turf field business, when the business is increasingly prosperous, The Anh became the owner of a chain of fast food restaurants in the Southern region. With 2 lovely sons and a gentle wife, The Anh is living a full life that many players dream of.

As a successful player and businessman on the field and in the business world, Thế Anh has not forgotten his study duties. While still playing until his retirement from XSKT Cần Thơ at the end of the 2015 season, the former “goalkeeper” of the national team had completed the highest coaching certificates of the Asian Football Confederation - AFC, including the goalkeeper coach certificate. At the same time, he graduated from the University of Physical Education and Sports II with impressive achievements.

Nguyen The Anh (in black) as goalkeeper coach. Photo: Provided by the character

Therefore, it is not surprising that in 2016, after retiring from his football career, Nguyen The Anh was trusted by his colleagues to be promoted to the position of goalkeeper coach of the Vietnam U16 team, and now the Vietnam U22 team.

Now that he has almost everything, The Anh can devote all his energy to coaching and continue living his passion. Along with the generation of Duong Hong Son, Nguyen Minh Duc, Le Cong Vinh... goalkeeper Nguyen The Anh is a role model for the younger generation of players to follow and learn from.

Trung Kien