Que Ngoc Hai leaves Dong A Thanh Hoa and moves to SHB Da Nang.
The 32-year-old center-back left after round 11, making only 6 appearances due to injury; the match against HAGL in Pleiku was his last before moving to SHB Da Nang.
Que Ngoc Hai will leave Dong A Thanh Hoa immediately after Round 11 of the V.League 2025/26 to move to SHB Da Nang. The match against HAGL at Pleiku Stadium will be the last time the former captain of the Vietnamese national team wears the Thanh Hoa team's jersey.
This comes as a surprise because before the season, Que Ngoc Hai had just signed a three-year contract with Thanh Hoa. However, injury problems have limited him to only 6 appearances since the start of the season, and recently he has mainly appeared in the final stages of matches, significantly limiting his professional and emotional influence in the locker room.
Reasons and context: injury, finances, and personnel changes.
The decision to part ways comes amidst Thanh Hoa's financial difficulties and the recent departure of coach Choi Won Kwon. With a squad lacking depth, releasing an experienced center-back like Que Ngoc Hai shows the club's need to prioritize resource allocation, even though he was initially expected to be a cornerstone of the defense.
Immediate impact on the rankings
Thanh Hoa currently has 8 points, ranking 11th, just one point ahead of SHB Da Nang. Da Nang has only earned 7 points after 11 rounds and is in crisis at the bottom of the table. The narrow gap and personnel changes make the relegation battle between the two teams even more intense in the second half of the season.
| Team | Points after 11 rounds |
|---|---|
| East Asia Thanh Hoa | 8 |
| SHB Da Nang | 7 |
Tactical perspective: why Da Nang needs Que Ngoc Hai
SHB Da Nang is looking for a leader in their defense. According to internal assessments, the presence of Que Ngoc Hai could help stabilize morale and improve defensive quality – two areas currently at a standstill. As an experienced center-back, he is expected to bring organizational strength, commanding rhythm within the defensive block, and composure in set-piece situations. These changes won't transform the system overnight, but they could be the foundation for the team to halt their decline.
Consequences for East Asia Thanh Hoa
For Thanh Hoa, losing an experienced "pillar" amidst imperfect squad rotation will create a void that is difficult to fill, both on the field and in the locker room. Notably, not only Que Ngoc Hai, but two other important Thanh Hoa players are also rumored to be moving to Da Nang when the second half of the season begins. If that scenario occurs, the Thanh Hoa team will not only be weakened in terms of personnel but also face the risk of running out of steam in the crucial battle for points.
The moment of farewell in Pleiku
The match against HAGL at Pleiku Stadium will therefore signify the end of a brief chapter for Que Ngoc Hai with Thanh Hoa. Despite playing fewer minutes than expected due to injury, his presence was still seen as a crucial professional asset that the team had hoped for when signing his three-year contract. The early conclusion was unexpected, but it reflects the harsh reality of a turbulent season.
Professional and morale highlights: leadership role and the integration challenge.
For SHB Da Nang, the challenge lies not only in adding a central defender, but also in how to integrate him into the defensive structure to maximize his leadership abilities. Expecting "immediate" results is always risky, but if this addition helps the team tighten positional discipline, improve communication within the defensive block, and increase confidence under pressure, they will have a basis to accumulate points.
On the opposite side, Thanh Hoa must quickly restructure their squad after parting ways with coach Choi Won Kwon and key players. With only a 1-point gap to the bottom group, any organizational or psychological mistakes could cost them their position in the standings.
