U21 Song Lam Nghe An and the championship goal

With an even squad, cohesive playing style and a well-prepared strategy, the young Nghe An team is aiming for the highest goal of reaching the championship after 10 years of waiting.

Strong transformation in youth training strategy

In recent years, the youth training strategy of Song Lam Nghe An Club has changed dramatically. If before,Lam River Nghe AnWhile the focus has traditionally been on the performance of the smaller U teams, the focus has now shifted to the larger U teams such as U15, U17, U19 and U21. These teams will play a key role in providing quality personnel for the First Team and the national youth teams.

“If we want Team 1 to have a good foundation, the youth teams must first achieve results. To achieve results, we must train truly quality players,” Mr. Tran Quang Dung - Director of Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center emphasized.

At the 2025 National U19 Tournament, although not highly rated, U19 Song Lam Nghe An still excellently won the Silver Medal, leaving many strong impressions in the hearts of fans. This achievement is not only a spiritual boost, but also affirms the right direction of Song Lam Nghe An in youth training.

Following that success, U21 Song Lam Nghe An entered the 2025 season with greater desire than ever. After a decade of not being able to return to the throne, including the 2024 season being eliminated from the first round, this year, the young team from Nghe An showed their determination to affirm their position and regain the glory of the past.

“Our goal is to win the championship. Not only for the club, but also for the trust of the fans and the expectations of the provincial leaders and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” Mr. Tran Quang Dung shared.

Immediately after the end of V.League 2024/25, Song Lam Nghe An U21 Team will have nearly 1 month to prepare for the qualifying round of the National U21 Tournament, scheduled to take place in early July. This is a valuable time for the coaching staff to not only reorganize the squad, build a playing style but also improve the connection between the lines.

Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center has proactively built a preparation plan very early. An important highlight is the appointment of Coach Pham Anh Tuan - who once led Team 1 of Song Lam Nghe An, Hai Phong to participate in V.League. Mr. Tuan's return to the youth team is expected to bring a new breeze in terms of expertise and competitive spirit.

“We chose an experienced coaching staff with the sole goal of winning the championship. This year’s squad has the full foundation to make that happen,” Mr. Dung affirmed.

The preliminary list of U21 Song Lam Nghe An in the 2025 season includes many prominent names, including many players who have played in the V.League, the National First and Second Divisions. This is a great advantage that helps this year's U21 squad become more experienced than in previous seasons.

Standing out in the U21 Song Lam Nghe An squad this year are many players currently playing for Team 1, including: goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, Nguyen Huu Hau; defenders Le Nguyen Hoang, Tran Nam Hai, Phan Van Thanh, Nguyen Mai Hoang; midfielders Nguyen Quang Vinh, Le Dinh Long Vu, Nguyen Trong Tuan, Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung; and striker Phung Van Nam.

In addition, the team also has many other bright faces playing in the First and Second Divisions such as defenders Tan Minh, Van Tam, strikers Trong Son, Phan Duy Hao... The presence of these factors brings significant depth to the squad, while increasing internal competition among players.
Teamwork, achievement-oriented

With a balanced squad in all three lines, U21 Song Lam Nghe An will have the opportunity to create flexibility in personnel arrangement and organization in competition tactics. However, according to coach Pham Anh Tuan, the decisive factor for success or failure in this year's tournament lies not only in a strong force, but also in the connection between the lines and the ability to coordinate between the players.

“This is a team with depth and balance. However, to be successful, the most important thing is the connection between the elements. We will do our best to help the players understand each other and operate the common playing style smoothly,” coach Pham Anh Tuan emphasized.

The fact that many players have played together in the Song Lam Nghe An First Team is also an advantage. They understand each other's playing style, thereby shortening the time to get familiar with tactics and increasing efficiency when entering official matches.

According to experts, U21 Song Lam Nghe An is one of the most promising candidates for this year's championship. In addition to thorough preparation and a quality squad, the Nghe An team is also benefiting from the fact that strong opponents such as U21 Hanoi, U21 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, PVF or U21 Viettel can no longer maintain a strong force like in previous seasons.

However, youth football always has unpredictable surprises. To achieve glory, U21 Song Lam Nghe An needs to stay alert in each match, maximize their competitive spirit and the flexibility in adjusting tactics of the coaching staff.
The 2025 National U21 Championship is approaching, and U21 Song Lam Nghe An is ready to embark on a new journey with determination and aspiration. If they win the championship, Song Lam Nghe An will quench their thirst for the throne after a decade of waiting.