V.League 2023/2024: A place for goalkeepers from Nghe An
According to statistics, there are up to 14 goalkeepers from Nghe An who are playing for clubs in the two highest leagues of Vietnamese football (V.League 1 and V.League 2). Among them, we have witnessed the excellence and stable performance of goalkeepers such as Nguyen Manh, Van Hoang and Van Viet.
Currently, there are 8 goalkeepers from Nghe An playing professionally in V.League including Tong Duc An (born 1991, 1m80, Quang Nam), Nguyen Van Cong (born 1992, 1m82 tall, Quang Nam), Ngo Xuan Son (born 1997, 1m77, Viettel), Tran Nguyen Manh (born 1991, 1m78, Nam Dinh), Nguyen Van Hoang (born 1995, 1m88, Hanoi), Nguyen Van Viet (born 2002, 1m80, Song Lam Nghe An), Tran Van Tien (born 1994, 1m84, Song Lam Nghe An), Cao Van Binh (born 2005, 1m83, Song Lam Nghe An).
There are 6 remaining names playing in the National First Division including Pham Van Cuong (born 1990, 1m86, SHB Da Nang), Le Van Hung (born 1992, 1m80, Bac Ninh), Le Quang Dai (born 1993, 1m78, Phu Dong), Duong Van Cuong (born 1999, 1m74, Phu Dong), Ho Viet Dai (born 2000, 1m85, Phu Tho).
It is worth mentioning that the goalkeepers who left the most impression in the V.League 2023/2024 playground at this time are not those who were called up to the National Team last time such as Nguyen Filip, Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Dinh Trieu but are goalkeepers from Nghe An.
Most notably, goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh, who is playing for the Nam Dinh Green Steel Club. In a season where the Thanh Nam team's defense was not as solid as expected, the excellence, experience and excellent reflexes of the player born in 1991 have helped Nam Dinh Green Steel fly high on the V.League 2023/24 rankings and get closer to the championship.
Although this season, Nam Dinh Steel Blue has lost 36 times, only better than Khanh Hoa, it cannot be denied that Nguyen Manh plays a role in the team led by coach Vu Hong Viet. At this time, Nguyen Manh has played 23 matches, 2070 minutes in Thanh Nam team's jersey.
The next goalkeeper from Nghe An to leave his mark this season is goalkeeper Nguyen Van Hoang. After leaving Song Lam Nghe An, he moved to Hanoi Club. Here, after a period of sitting on the bench for Quan Van Chuan, Van Hoang continuously started 9 matches for the capital team and helped the home team have 5 consecutive victories, climbing to the top 3 with 39 points and threatening the number 1 position of Nam Dinh with only 5 points less.
And third, the goalkeeper who prevented Van Hoang from competing for a position at Song Lam Nghe An despite his young age is Nguyen Van Viet. Only 21 years old, but Van Viet has shown his previous role, coach Philippe Troussier continuously called him up to the National Team. Last season, Van Viet played 9 matches to impress the former head coach of the Vietnam National Team, but this season, the goalkeeper from Tan Ky, Nghe An has played 21 matches, 1,890 minutes.
The Nghe An team's performance this season is not good, but they have only conceded 27 goals, among the teams that have conceded the fewest goals in the V.League, thanks to the great efforts of the young goalkeeper born in 2002. Van Viet's strengths are his quick reflexes and his ability to face dangerous situations and make incredible saves. On average, Van Viet makes 3-4 saves per match. Obviously, if it weren't for Van Viet in goal this season, Song Lam Nghe An would have faced countless difficulties.
The next goalkeeper from Nghe An to become a silent hero for his team is Nguyen Van Cong. Moving to Quang Nam from Hanoi Club, Van Cong won the trust of coach Van Sy Son with 17 matches, 1,530 minutes of play, contributing greatly to Quang Nam's very successful matches.
Next season, V.League will certainly welcome goalkeeper Pham Van Cuong of SHB Da Nang Club back to the highest level of Vietnamese football. And at Song Lam Nghe An in the future, there may be the appearance of quite promising goalkeeper Nguyen Bao Ngoc (1m83, Vietnam U19 Team).
It is unfortunate that the goalkeepers from Nghe An who are playing very well in the V.League have not had the opportunity to return to the Vietnam National Team in recent times. However, with the impressive statistics and performances of Nguyen Manh, Van Hoang or Van Viet, surely the head coach of the Vietnam National Team, Mr. Kim Sang-sik, will keep an eye on them in the upcoming important campaigns of the team./.
