Xuan Son misses out on a spot on the Vietnam national team's leadership committee in November.
The Vietnamese national team finalized its November leadership team with Duy Mạnh as captain, and Quang Hải and Hoàng Đức as vice-captains. Xuân Son was absent, while Pendant Quang Vinh had previously worn the armband in the 84th minute.
The Vietnamese national team announced its November leadership team: Duy Mạnh retains the captain's armband, with Quang Hải and Hoàng Đức as vice-captains. Xuân Son was not included, thus missing out on the expected honor for a naturalized player in the Vietnamese national team.
Vietnam National Team Executive Committee - November
According to the latest announcement, the leadership structure includes:
- Captain:Duy Manh
- Deputy Team Leader:Quang Hai, Hoang Duc
Previously, fans had hoped that Xuan Son would be given the responsibility of both providing additional motivation for the team and acting as a link to the group of foreign players in the squad.
Pendant Quang Vinh and its recent historical milestones.
During the October training camp, coach Kim Sang Sik surprised everyone by including Pendant Quang Vinh in the leadership team. The French-Vietnamese defender is one of two vice-captains alongside Hoang Duc, and captain Duy Manh. This marks the first time in history that a Vietnamese-French player has been selected for the leadership team of the Vietnamese national team.
Pendant Quang Vinh even played for the Vietnamese national team after Xuan Son, only starting in June of this year after completing the naturalization process and meeting the eligibility requirements. In the match against Nepal, after Duy Manh left the field in the 84th minute, the captain's armband was handed to Pendant Quang Vinh, making him the first overseas Vietnamese player in the history of the Vietnamese national team to wear the captain's armband.
Strategic depth: Diversification of personnel and the role of a bridge.
The selection of Pendant Quang Vinh shows that coach Kim Sang Sik wants to further diversify the Vietnamese national team's roster in the future. Given the language and cultural differences, a player with international experience could act as a bridge between overseas Vietnamese players in the national team or naturalized players later on.
In that context, the fact that Xuan Son is not yet part of the leadership team is noteworthy. Since becoming a naturalized citizen, he has been considered one of the team's most important players. However, Xuan Son's ability to speak both Vietnamese and English remains a limitation that he needs to improve in order to communicate better with his teammates if he aims for the role of vice-captain or captain.
Notable numbers and timelines
- November: The leadership team consists of captain Duy Mạnh; vice-captains Quang Hải and Hoàng Đức.
- October: Pendant Quang Vinh was appointed vice-captain, marking the first time a Vietnamese-born player of overseas origin has been part of the leadership team of the Vietnamese national team.
- June: Pendant Quang Vinh began playing for the Vietnamese national team after completing the naturalization process.
- 84th minute (against Nepal): The captain's armband was given to Pendant Quang Vinh after Duy Mạnh left the field; a historic milestone for a Vietnamese-born player wearing the captain's armband.
Prospects
Fans are hoping that in future training camps, Xuan Son may be given a leadership role. For now, improving communication in the locker room will be key if he wants to move closer to a leadership role in the national team.
