U21 Song Lam Nghe An and their goal of winning the championship.

With a well-balanced squad, cohesive playing style, and a well-planned strategy, the young team from Nghe An is aiming for the ultimate goal: to win the championship after a 10-year wait.

A major shift in youth training strategy.

Over the past few years, Song Lam Nghe An Club's youth training strategy has undergone significant changes. Previously,Lam River, Nghe AnWhile the focus used to be on the achievements of smaller U-teams, it has now shifted to larger teams such as U15, U17, U19, and U21. These teams will play a crucial role in providing quality players for the first team and national youth teams.

"For the first team to have a good foundation, the youth teams must first achieve success. To achieve success, we must train truly high-quality players," emphasized Mr. Tran Quang Dung, Director of the Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center.

At the 2025 National U19 Championship, despite not being highly rated, the Song Lam Nghe An U19 team still excellently won the Silver Medal, leaving a strong impression on fans. This achievement is not only a morale boost but also affirms the correct direction of Song Lam Nghe An in youth training.

Following that success, U21 Song Lam Nghe An enters the 2025 season with greater ambition than ever before. After a decade without being able to reclaim the championship title, including being eliminated in the early rounds of the 2024 season, this year, the young team from Nghe An is determined to assert its position and regain the glory of the past.

"Our goal is to win the championship. Not only for the club, but also for the belief of the fans and the expectations from the provincial leadership and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism," Mr. Tran Quang Dung shared.

Immediately after the V.League 2024/25 season concludes, the Song Lam Nghe An U21 team will have nearly a month to prepare for the National U21 Championship qualifiers, scheduled to take place in early July. This is a valuable period for the coaching staff to not only reorganize the team and develop a playing style but also improve cohesion between the different lines of the team.

The Song Lam Nghe An Youth Football Training Center proactively developed a preparation plan well in advance. A key highlight is the appointment of Coach Pham Anh Tuan – who previously led the Song Lam Nghe An and Hai Phong first teams in the V.League. Coach Tuan's return to the youth team is expected to bring a fresh perspective in terms of both technical expertise and fighting spirit.

"We selected an experienced coaching staff with the sole objective of winning the championship. This year's squad has the full potential to achieve that," Mr. Dung affirmed.

The preliminary U21 Song Lam Nghe An squad for the 2025 season features many prominent names, including a significant number of players who have played or are currently playing in the V.League, First Division, and Second Division of the National Championship. This is a major advantage that makes this year's U21 team more experienced than in previous seasons.

The U21 Song Lam Nghe An team this year features many players currently playing for the first team, including: goalkeepers Cao Van Binh and Nguyen Huu Hau; defenders Le Nguyen Hoang, Tran Nam Hai, Phan Van Thanh, and Nguyen Mai Hoang; midfielders Nguyen Quang Vinh, Le Dinh Long Vu, Nguyen Trong Tuan, and Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung; and striker Phung Van Nam.

In addition, the team also boasts many other promising players currently competing in the First and Second Divisions, such as defenders Tan Minh and Van Tam, and forwards Trong Son and Phan Duy Hao... The inclusion of these players brings considerable depth to the squad and increases internal competition among the players.
Teamwork, focus on achievement.

Possessing a well-balanced squad across all three lines, U21 Song Lam Nghe An will have the opportunity to create flexibility in personnel arrangement and organizational strength in their tactics. However, according to coach Pham Anh Tuan, the decisive factor in this year's tournament lies not only in the strength of the squad, but also in the cohesion between the lines and the ability of the players to coordinate.

"This is a team with depth and balance. However, to succeed, the most important thing is cohesion among the players. We will do our best to ensure the players understand each other and that the team's playing style runs smoothly," emphasized coach Pham Anh Tuan.

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 needed to adapt tactics and increasing effectiveness when entering official matches.

According to experts, U21 Song Lam Nghe An is one of the strongest contenders for the championship this year. Besides thorough preparation and a quality squad, the team from Nghe An is also benefiting from the fact that strong rivals like U21 Hanoi, U21 Hoang Anh Gia Lai, PVF, and U21 Viettel are no longer able to maintain the same strong lineups as in previous seasons.

Nevertheless, youth football always holds unpredictable surprises. To achieve glory, U21 Song Lam Nghe An needs to maintain composure in every match, maximize their competitive spirit, and demonstrate flexibility in tactical adjustments as advised by the coaching staff.
The 2025 National U21 Championship is fast approaching, and U21 Song Lam Nghe An is ready to embark on a new journey with determination and ambition. Winning the championship would end Song Lam Nghe An's decade-long wait for a title.