The joy of victory for the U.21 LPBank HAGL players.
Fans surely still vividly remember the moment when HAGL's young star Nguyen Cong Phuong confidently scored a solo goal against the Australian U.19 team in 2014, causing My Dinh Stadium to erupt in cheers.
That image is typical, representing what the Vietnam U.19 team in general and the HAGL U.19 team in particular have achieved at a time when Vietnamese football is in decline after a series of scandals.
Players like Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh, and Van Toan sow hope for a generation that will bring glory to Vietnamese football. Meanwhile, HAGL is expected to produce even more "seeds" to contribute to the sustainable development of the country's football.
However, after the first generation of players, HAGL has produced almost no world-class players. After the generation of Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh, etc., the training academy in the mountain town has not made many significant contributions to the Vietnamese national team.
Captain Nguyen Quoc Viet is a familiar name in the Vietnam U.23 team.
Meanwhile, generations of Hanoi FC players continue to contribute regularly to the Vietnamese national team, from Nguyen Van Quyet, Do Hung Dung, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Nguyen Quang Hai to rising stars Nguyen Van Tung and Nguyen Van Truong.
Similarly, Viettel Sports Club is also seeing a continuity, from Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Duc Chien, and now Nguyen Thanh Binh and Khuat Van Khang. This is the clearest evidence of stability in youth training and also demonstrates the difference in training quality between clubs.
Hanoi FC and The Cong Viettel share a common approach to youth development. Their young players regularly compete and achieve good results in national youth leagues. Afterward, outstanding talents are further honed in the first team, gradually maturing under the guidance of their senior teammates.
A dramatic victory on penalties helped the LPBank HAGL U.21 team win the 2024 National U.21 Championship. VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan sent a letter congratulating the team on their outstanding achievement.
LPBank HAGL's youth football team is having a successful season.
In the letter, Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan affirmed that the team's outstanding achievement at the national U.21 tournament was a well-deserved result of the efforts, determination, and solidarity of all members.
The LPBank HAGL U.21 team has demonstrated outstanding ability and unwavering determination, bringing pride not only to the team itself but also to all Gia Lai fans.
HAGL is taking similar steps, using more young players in the last two or three seasons. Notably, Nguyen Duc Viet, Nguyen Quoc Viet, and Tran Trung Kien… are all being given opportunities in the V-League.
Thanks to that, they had the confidence to lead U.21 LPBank HAGL to win the 2024 National U.21 Championship. These three players also won individual awards of the tournament including: Best Player, Top Scorer and Best Goalkeeper.
These players were subsequently called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to the Vietnam U.22 team, in preparation for the 2026 U.23 Asian Championship qualifiers and the 33rd SEA Games.
The pass from midfielder Duc Viet.
Looking at the bigger picture, HAGL's youth football teams also had relatively good results in 2024, winning a bronze medal at the national U.17 championship and a silver medal at the national U.19 championship. The HAGL U.15 team itself is also performing well in the national U.15 tournament.
Some promising young players like Dinh Quang Kiet and Hoang Minh Tien have gained more experience playing at Kon Tum Club and are now familiar faces in the Vietnam U.17 and U.19 youth teams.
Currently, HAGL is also focusing on using young players in the V-League. After helping the team from the mountainous region successfully avoid relegation last season, coach Vu Tien Thanh affirmed that he does not need to recruit more domestic players for the team and will instead rely on homegrown talent.
This is truly a great opportunity for young players to develop and improve themselves. If they go in the right direction, the new generation of players from the LPBank HAGL academy could absolutely make it into the Vietnamese national team, just like Tuan Anh, Van Toan, and Van Thanh are doing.
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