V.League 2023/2024: A stage for goalkeepers from Nghe An province.
According to statistics, there are as many as 14 goalkeepers from Nghe An currently playing in clubs in the two highest divisions of Vietnamese football (V.League 1 and V.League 2). Among them, we have witnessed the excellence and consistent performance of goalkeepers such as Nguyen Manh, Van Hoang, and Van Viet.
Currently, there are 8 goalkeepers from Nghe An playing professionally in the V.League, including Tong Duc An (born 1991, 1.80m, Quang Nam), Nguyen Van Cong (born 1992, 1.82m, Quang Nam), Ngo Xuan Son (born 1997, 1.77m, Viettel), Tran Nguyen Manh (born 1991, 1.78m, Nam Dinh), Nguyen Van Hoang (born 1995, 1.88m, Hanoi), Nguyen Van Viet (born 2002, 1.80m, Song Lam Nghe An), Tran Van Tien (born 1994, 1.84m, Song Lam Nghe An), and Cao Van Binh (born 2005, 1.83m, Song Lam Nghe An).
The remaining six players who play in the National First Division are Pham Van Cuong (born 1990, 1.86m, SHB Da Nang), Le Van Hung (born 1992, 1.80m, Bac Ninh), Le Quang Dai (born 1993, 1.78m, Phu Dong), Duong Van Cuong (born 1999, 1.74m, Phu Dong), and Ho Viet Dai (born 2000, 1.85m, Phu Tho).
Interestingly, the goalkeepers who have made the biggest impression in the V.League 2023/2024 season so far are not those who were recently called up to the national team like Nguyen Filip, Dang Van Lam, or Nguyen Dinh Trieu, but rather goalkeepers from Nghe An province.
Most notably, goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, currently playing for Nam Dinh Steel Green Club. In a season where the team's defense hasn't been as solid as expected, the excellence, experience, and superb reflexes of the 1991-born player have helped Nam Dinh Steel Green soar high in the V.League 2023/24 standings and move closer to the championship.
Although Nam Dinh Steel has lost 36 times this season, only slightly better than Khanh Hoa, it cannot be denied that Nguyen Manh's role in the team led by coach Vu Hong Viet is crucial. To date, Nguyen Manh has played in all 23 matches, totaling 2070 minutes, for the Nam Dinh team.
Another goalkeeper from Nghe An province to make his mark this season is Nguyen Van Hoang. After leaving Song Lam Nghe An, he moved to Hanoi FC. There, after a period of being a reserve behind Quan Van Chuan, Van Hoang consistently started 9 matches for the capital city team, helping them secure 5 consecutive wins, climbing to the top 3 with 39 points and threatening Nam Dinh's number 1 position with only 5 points less.
And third, the goalkeeper who prevented Van Hoang from competing for a position at Song Lam Nghe An, despite his young age, is Nguyen Van Viet. At only 21 years old, Van Viet has already demonstrated the role that coach Philippe Troussier repeatedly called him up to the National Team. Last season, Van Viet played 9 matches to impress the former head coach of the Vietnam National Team, but this season, the goalkeeper from Tan Ky, Nghe An has played 21 matches, totaling 1,890 minutes.
The Nghe An team's performance this season hasn't been great, but conceding only 27 goals, placing them among the teams with the fewest goals conceded in the V.League, is largely thanks to the young goalkeeper born in 2002. Van Viet's strengths are his quick reflexes and his ability to face dangerous situations and make incredible saves. On average, Van Viet makes 3-4 saves per match. Clearly, if Van Viet wasn't in goal this season, Song Lam Nghe An would have faced countless difficulties.
The next goalkeeper from Nghe An to become a silent hero for his team is Nguyen Van Cong. Having moved to Quang Nam from Hanoi FC, Van Cong earned the complete trust of coach Van Sy Son, playing 17 matches and contributing significantly to Quang Nam's many successful games.
Next season, the V.League will certainly welcome back goalkeeper Pham Van Cuong of SHB Da Nang to the top tier of Vietnamese football. And at Song Lam Nghe An in the future, there may be the appearance of the promising goalkeeper Nguyen Bao Ngoc (1.83m, Vietnam U19 national team).
Unfortunately, goalkeepers from Nghe An province who are playing very well in the V.League have not had the opportunity to return to the Vietnamese national team recently. However, with the impressive statistics and performances of Nguyen Manh, Van Hoang, and Van Viet, it is certain that the head coach of the Vietnamese national team, Kim Sang-sik, will keep an eye on them in the team's upcoming important campaigns.