Sport

Midfielder Phan Bá Quyền: From Newspaper Cup to key player at Sông Lam Nghệ An

Duc Anh • May 12, 2026 17:36

From a boy who grew up in a rice-growing region and once participated in the Newspaper Cup, midfielder Phan Bá Quyền has now become one of the most important faces of Sông Lam Nghệ An under coach Văn Sỹ Sơn.

Coach Van Sy Son's versatile "trump card"

While not a name that frequently appears in the newspapers after each match, Phan Bá Quyền's perseverance, versatility, and fiery fighting spirit make him a particularly important asset in the playing style of the Nghe An team.

In the 2025/26 season, amidst Song Lam Nghe An's persistent squad difficulties, Phan Ba ​​Quyen was almost a rare name capable of playing in any position the coaching staff needed. From defensive midfielder and right-back to center-back, the player from Yen Thanh left his mark with his ferocity, dedication, and remarkable adaptability.

Few people know that Phan Bá Quyền's journey to where he is today began when he was a young boy competing in the Nghệ An Newspaper Cup Youth Football Tournament in 2013. That tournament opened the door for him to enter professional football.

However, returning to the present, it can be said that if we had to find one player who brings the most reassurance to the Song Lam Nghe An coaching staff this season, Phan Ba ​​Quyen would certainly be the name most frequently mentioned.

Ba Quyen doesn't possess a particularly outstanding physique, nor is he a player known for his flamboyant style of play, but he compensates with his tenacity, tactical thinking, and never-give-up spirit. That's why coach Van Sy Son always trusts him during the most difficult times.

In Round 21 of the V.League 2025/26, when Song Lam Nghe An was missing two key central defenders, Justin Garcia due to injury and Hoang Van Khanh due to suspension, Phan Ba ​​Quyen was unexpectedly moved to play center back alongside Le Nguyen Hoang in the match against Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

Although this was the first time the two had played together in the center of the defense, Ba Quyen's understanding and judgment helped the Nghe An team's defense play quite solidly. His fierce challenges and excellent situational awareness made it very difficult for the Hoang Anh Gia Lai strikers.

Previously, when Ho Van Cuong suffered a long-term injury, Phan Ba ​​Quyen was moved to play right back. Although it wasn't his preferred position, he quickly adapted thanks to his speed, physical fitness, and relatively good attacking support capabilities.

Many of Ba Quyen's crosses created dangerous opportunities for forwards like Michael Olaha and Reon Dale Moore. His defensive abilities also helped make the right flank of the Nghe An team more solid.

In fact, Phan Bá Quyền's preferred position is defensive midfielder. After being promoted to the first team in the 2023 season, he had a standout period playing in midfield thanks to his strong tackling ability and effective interceptions.

Ba Quyen himself admitted that constantly changing positions was a significant challenge for him.

“When I first joined the academy, I played center back. But as I got older, I realized my physique was no longer suitable for playing center back long-term. I thought I needed to switch to playing midfielder to develop better,” Phan Bá Quyền shared.

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I think I need to move up to midfield to develop better.

Phan Ba ​​Quyen

The player, born in 2002, said that when coach Ngo Quang Truong moved him to play as a midfielder in 2021, he faced many difficulties.

“The hardest thing about moving from center back to midfielder is observation skills. When playing center back, you can observe a wider area, but when playing midfielder, you're usually facing away from the opponent's goal, so you have to constantly be on the lookout. It took me quite a while to adapt,” Bá Quyền added.

His perseverance and progressive spirit helped him gradually mature. From his loan spells in Dong Nai, Vinh Phuc, and Binh Phuoc, Phan Ba ​​Quyen accumulated more experience to return and become an important part of Song Lam Nghe An today.

Unforgettable memories at the Newspaper Cup.

Behind the image of a powerful player on the field lies a difficult childhood for Phan Bá Quyền.

Born in Thinh Thanh commune, former Yen Thanh district (now Van Du commune), into a rather poor family, football has always been the greatest joy for this player born in 2002.

In 2013, the first turning point came for Phan Bá Quyền when he was called up to the Yên Thành Children's team to participate in the Nghệ An Newspaper Cup Youth and Children's Tournament.

At that time, Ba Quyen played as a central defender and quickly became a pillar in the defense of the rice-growing district's team. With his aggressive, intelligent playing style and good situational awareness, the boy from Yen Thanh (formerly) made a significant contribution to leading his team to the final.

The opponent of Yen Thanh Children's team that year was Tan Ky Children's team, which had an exceptionally talented goalkeeper named Nguyen Van Viet.

The final match was tense and had to be decided by a penalty shootout. Although Phan Bá Quyền successfully converted his penalty, the Yên Thành Children's team ultimately lost and had to watch their opponents lift the championship trophy.

That's a memory the player born in 2002 still remembers very clearly. A sad defeat, but it opened a new path for his football career.

After that tournament, Phan Bá Quyền caught the eye of Sông Lam Nghệ An's scouts and was called for a tryout. It didn't take long for the boy from the rice-growing region to officially become a trainee at Nghệ An's youth football academy.

From a football-loving farm kid, Phan Bá Quyền has now become one of the most important players for Sông Lam Nghệ An.

Currently, the Vinh-based team is facing the risk of significant squad changes after the 2025/26 season, making Phan Bá Quyền's role even more crucial. Not only is he a key tactical asset for coach Văn Sỹ Sơn, but the player from the rice-growing region is also expected to become a new pillar of support, both professionally and mentally, for the Nghệ An team in the new season.