Midfielder Tran Phi Son: 'I am ready for new goals'

Possessing memorable championship titles with the SLNA youth teams, Phi Son was promoted by coach Huu Thang to participate in V.League 2013. In his first year playing for the Nghe An team at the top level, Phi Son had 7 matches as a starter and 8 times as a substitute. He did not score any goals but that was an important asset for this midfielder with a technical playing style.

Tran Phi Son's progress began to be clearly shown in V.League 2014 when his senior Trong Hoang left SLNA. The player born in 1992 played a total of 18 matches and scored 5 goals. The rise of this midfielder started from V.League 2015 to 2017, he became a pillar and inspiration for the whole team.

With 20 goals in 3 consecutive V.League seasons for SLNA and the 2017 National Cup championship, Phi Son became the top target of V.League giants. It can be said that Phi Son no longer being a SLNA player was a tearful farewell. In the heart of the midfielder from Ha Tinh, SLNA was the launching pad for this player's visible success.

Phi Son had beautiful days with SLNA. Photo: Trung Kien

When V.League 2017 ends, more than anyone else, SLNA needs Phi Son and vice versa. The trio of Khac Ngoc - Phi Son - Van Duc - Michael Olaha is a dream attack for any coach.

Despite his impressive performance and maturity, after coach Toshiya Miura left Vietnam football, the best young player of Vietnam football in 2012 no longer had the chance to wear the national team shirt. A new generation of talented players was noticed by coach Park Hang-seo and luck turned its back, taking away the opportunity of the most outstanding player of the Nghe An team.

Between two choices, Ho Chi Minh City with a better contract or staying at SLNA to become a star, Phi Son decided to leave. The difference in treatment between the two choices was not much, but in the end Phi Son did not dare to trade his career that was open.

Injury has taken away many opportunities of Phi Son. Photo: FBNV

Joining Ho Chi Minh City FC, Phi Son had a rough start at his new team. Before the match between Ho Chi Minh City FC and SLNA (the make-up match of round 1 of V.League 2018), the midfielder born in 1992 suffered a torn knee ligament.

This forced Tran Phi Son to stay away from the field for more than a month, missing 4 matches of Ho Chi Minh City Club. However, he still had 6 goals in 21 appearances in V.League 2018, not a bad achievement.

At the end of V.League 2018, bad luck continued to haunt Phi Son. The second time Tran Phi Son was injured was during a training session of Ho Chi Minh City Club in mid-January 2019. With an ankle injury, the former SLNA player almost had to go to Korea for surgery.

Coach Chung Hae-seong has high expectations for the Nghe An player. Photo: NVCC

However, after many injury checks, the 27-year-old midfielder chose physical therapy instead of surgery. In April 2019, Phi Son missed the 2019 V.League for the third time when he suffered a recurrence of his ankle injury.

Closing the 2019 V.League when Ho Chi Minh City FC won the runner-up position, Phi Son only played 3 matches but scored 2 goals. That made Phi Son feel extremely regretful: "That injury period was also a bit unlucky, that period was very long for me and made me think a lot. In my mind, I just wanted to be treated well to return to competition".

When V.League 2020 has not yet started, Ho Chi Minh City FC entered the AFC Cup 2020 and this is truly a stage for a midfielder with a technical playing style like Phi Son. In the 2-2 draw between Ho Chi Minh City FC and Yangon United FC, the midfielder who grew up in SLNA was trusted with the captain's armband.

Phi Son is currently the leader of Ho Chi Minh City Club. Photo: FBNV

Until the match against Hougang United in Singapore, Phi Son continued to be the team leader and had a brilliant day. Although he did not score himself, he was the one who directly assisted Cong Phuong to open the score and passed the ball to foreign player Balde to score a double.

His high-precision dribbling and passing made it difficult for the opposing defense. Phi Son’s red form in the Ho Chi Minh City FC shirt made fans expect him to play well in the V.League and attract the attention of coach Park Hang-seo.

After the past two matches, Phi Son said: “I feel my form is stable and I need to try harder. When playing alongside Cong Phuong, we understand each other very well from language to playing style. He is a good player. My immediate goal is to try my best in each match and be ready for new goals. I think if I try harder, what will come will come."

Tran Phi Son scored a hat-trick of assists, Cong Phuong continued to score at AFC Cup 2020

(Baonghean.vn) - Ho Chi Minh City FC's attack had a successful day in their away match against Singapore's Hougang United. In this match, Phi Son left his mark on all 3 goals while Cong Phuong scored his second goal in the 2020 AFC Cup.