Overseas Vietnamese players from Europe flock to V-League: Vietnam national team will be stronger

The presence of promising European Vietnamese players such as Brandon Ly, Chung Do,... in the V-League promises to help the Vietnamese team become stronger in the future.

The quality of overseas Vietnamese coming to V-League is increasing.

On the evening of July 27, Ninh Binh Club activated the "blockbuster" Chung Do, when reaching an agreement to recruit the Vietnamese-American player currently playing in Bulgaria for 500,000 euros (15 billion VND). It is expected that each season, Ninh Binh team will pay Chung Do no less than 10 billion VND. This is a record salary for a Vietnamese player, even foreign players in the V-League rarely reach this figure.

However, Ninh Binh Club has reasons to spend a lot. Chung Do is still very young (born in 2005), but has played 62 matches for Slavia Sofia, the team playing in the highest league of Bulgaria. Chung Do played for U.17 Bulgaria in 2021 - 2022, then was promoted to U.19 Bulgaria in 2022, when he was not yet 17 years old. In early 2023, at the age of 18, Chung Do played for U.21 Bulgaria. He is the most sought-after young player in the land of roses, and is also the youngest overseas Vietnamese player with the most impressive resume to accept to play in the V-League.

Who is Do Nguyen Thanh Chung - the Bulgarian Vietnamese who just arrived at Ninh Binh Club?

Chung Do joined Ninh Binh Club

PHOTO: NINH BINH CLUB

With a valuation of 400,000 euros (about 13 billion VND) according to Transfermarkt , Chung Do is a solution for the present and the future. In the farewell announcement of Chung Do, Slavia Sofia also clearly stated that the 20-year-old player returned to the country to play for Ninh Binh and waited to play for the Vietnam national team. If he stayed in Bulgaria, Chung Do would also have the opportunity to play for the Bulgarian national team (because he played for the youth teams here). However, in Europe, the gap between the national team and the youth team is "a world apart". Unlike Vietnam, if he proves his ability, Chung Do will be given the opportunity.

That is also the path Brandon Ly wants to take. The player who played for Burnley U21 returned to Vietnam with the desire to play for the youth team, then step by step move up to the national team. Both Brandon Ly and Chung Do are turning to a new direction for the flow of overseas Vietnamese to the V-League.

If in the past, most of the overseas Vietnamese returning were "second class" like Mac Hong Quan, Michal Nguyen, Dang Van Lam, or had passed their prime like Nguyen Filip, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, now, overseas Vietnamese players are getting younger and younger.

Brandon Ly and Chung Do can even wear the U.20 Vietnam shirt and have 10-15 years of bright careers ahead of them. Choosing to return to the V-League and then find a way to join the national team is a new step for overseas Vietnamese, helping Vietnamese football increase its quality and competitiveness.

Vietnam team benefits

The contributions of overseas Vietnamese in recent times have somewhat improved the capacity of the Vietnamese team.

With the "wall" Van Lam in goal, the Vietnamese team won the AFF Cup 2018, reached the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2019 and the third qualifying round of the World Cup 2022. Nguyen Filip, although not playing regularly (he only played 2 matches in the AFF Cup 2024), still affirmed the stature and class of a goalkeeper who played for 8 years in Europe.

Chung Do wears shirt number 8 at Ninh Binh Club

PHOTO: NINH BINH CLUB

Cao Pendant Quang Vinh has only played one match for the Vietnam national team, so it is too early to make a judgment. However, Quang Vinh's stamina, one-on-one ability and attacking support have given coach Kim Sang-sik more options on the left flank.

If Chung Do wears the national team jersey, Mr. Kim will have another piece to complete the midfield. Chung Do is a versatile midfielder who can block, develop the play, control the ball, shoot from afar and create. Abundant physical resources and a persistent playing style help Chung Nguyen Do compete equally for a position and prove his ability with his much older seniors.

In the context of Vietnam's midfield lacking talent, Chung Do will bring competitiveness, along with a neat, direct playing style with a European feel.

Adaptability will play an important role in helping overseas Vietnamese players find their place, and in this aspect, Chung Do benefits from the fact that the Vietnamese national team has changed. More and more overseas Vietnamese are returning, helping to open up football thinking and communication within the team, and the coach is also willing to "open the door" to good players.

Chung Do and other overseas Vietnamese stars will help the Vietnamese team change its appearance. The road is still long, but the first steps must be taken, and hope for change to come.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-thu-viet-kieu-chau-au-do-ve-v-league-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-se-manh-hon-185250728151342137.htm