Goalkeeper Tran Van Tien bids farewell to Song Lam Nghe An.
On his personal page, the goalkeeper from Do Luong announced his farewell to the Nghe An team after 14 years of dedication.
It's perfectly understandable that Tran Van Tien's contract wasn't renewed by the Nghe An team. Song Lam Nghe An already possesses a number of goalkeepers who are highly regarded for their talent. Besides Nguyen Van Viet, there are Cao Van Binh, Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Chu Van Tan, and Nguyen Huu Hau.
Although he has been a member of Song Lam Nghe An's squad since the 2017 season, Tran Van Tien's familiar position is on the substitutes' bench. Only in less important matches or in the National Cup competition is the goalkeeper born in 1994 used by Song Lam Nghe An's coaching staff.
Statistics don't lie. In 8 seasons playing for Song Lam Nghe An (2017 - 2023/2024), Tran Van Tien only played in 17 matches, totaling 1,530 minutes in the V.League. The only title Tran Van Tien won with Song Lam Nghe An was the 2017 National Cup.
Objectively speaking, whenever he stands in goal for the home team in Vinh, Tran Van Tien has performed his assigned tasks quite excellently. This is one of the reasons why the 30-year-old goalkeeper has had his contract extended three times by the Song Lam Nghe An management (2020, 2021, and 2023).
Reportedly, immediately after leaving his hometown team, Tran Van Tien decided to join Ho Chi Minh City FC. At Thong Nhat Stadium, Tran Van Tien will have to compete for a position with "Changzhou hero" Bui Tien Dung, the goalkeeper who recently returned to Ho Chi Minh City FC from Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
Hopefully, coach Phung Thanh Phuong will regularly give Tran Van Tien opportunities to showcase his talent in the 2024/2025 season. Don't forget that Ho Chi Minh City FC also has former Song Lam Nghe An and Vietnam U23 striker Ho Tuan Tai on their roster.
