Vietnamese-born player Martin Lò unexpectedly retires.

Martin Lò, a former member of the Vietnam U23 team under coach Park Hang Seo, has decided to retire from playing at the age of 28.

Martin Lò unexpectedly announced his retirement at the age of 28 - Photo: NGỌC LÊ

This surprising information was shared by Martin Lò on his personal page on the morning of August 2nd.

"This is a personal decision for myself. My life goals and values ​​no longer align with the path that football is offering," Martin Lò shared.

He continued: "For 21 years, football has given me a place to express myself in a way that words couldn't. As an introverted Asian boy, growing up in an environment where Asians were often overlooked and underrepresented in sports , football gave me a voice when I had none."

Football will always be a part of Martin Lò's life, but it will no longer be my entire identity. Martin Lò leaves the pitch not with regret, but with love and gratitude for the art form that I once believed in."

Martin Lò was born in 1996 in Australia to a Vietnamese expatriate family and holds Vietnamese citizenship. He returned to Vietnam in 2019 and played for Pho Hien FC (now PVF-CAND) in the First Division. There, Martin proved his abilities, scoring 4 goals in 20 matches (despite playing as a central midfielder), helping the team secure a playoff spot for promotion to the V-League (where they lost to Thanh Hoa ).

Martin Lò has decent expertise, and is even considered quite good among Vietnamese expatriates in Vietnam - Photo: NGỌC LÊ

Also that year, Martin Lò was called up by coach Park Hang Seo to the Vietnam U23 team to play friendly matches against Myanmar and Hong Kong in preparation for the 30th SEA Games. Since then, Martin has not been present at any level of the national team.

Since 2020, Martin Lò moved to Hai Phong and continued to prove his abilities under the strict guidance of coaches Pham Anh Tuan and Chu Dinh Nghiem. In nearly five years playing for the Hai Phong team, Martin scored 2 goals and provided 3 assists in 72 matches across all competitions, including the V-League, the National Cup, and the AFC Cup.

In his final season before retirement, Martin also performed outstandingly for PVF-CAND, making a significant contribution to the team's promotion race (finishing in the top 3 of the 2024-2025 First Division).

Martin Lò's decision to end his professional playing career came as a shock and a source of regret for many, as his skill level was by no means bad. He retired at a time when Vietnamese football was welcoming overseas Vietnamese players.

After retiring from football, Martin Lò will focus on the beverage, bar, and fashion business ventures he pursued previously.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cau-thu-viet-kieu-martin-lo-bat-ngo-giai-nghe-20250802105949105.htm