Can Cong Phuong still play in the V.League?

Truong Tuoi Dong Nai's promotion opens up an exciting prospect: Nguyen Cong Phuong's return to the V.League, for the first time since 2022.

Having won the First Division title one round early, with 50 points after only 21 matches, a full 5 points ahead of the second-placed team, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai is one of the most impressive champions in the First Division over the years.

Given his current form, fans have high expectations for this newcomer in the V.League next season. As for Cong Phuong himself, four years after his last V.League appearance, will he still have the ability to shine?

Cong Phuong shone in the final stages of the season at Dong Nai. Photo: Truong Tuoi Dong Nai.

The strength of Truong Tuoi Dong Nai

Currently, the Trường Tươi Đồng Nai squad is mostly comprised of experienced players who have competed in V.League 1, and some have even represented the Vietnamese national team: Bùi Tấn Trường, Nguyễn Hữu Tuấn, Dương Văn Khoa, Huỳnh Tấn Sinh, Trần Minh Vương, Lương Xuân Trường, Sầm Ngọc Đức, Hồ Sỹ Giáp, Nguyễn Thanh Thảo, Lê Văn Sơn, and Công Phượng.

Regarding foreign players, "The Green Warriors" possess Alex Sandro. According to Transfermarkt , at the time the Brazilian striker joins Truong Tuoi Dong Nai (August 2025), Sandro is valued at 400,000 euros. In comparison, in V.League 1, current champions like Nguyen Filip, Nguyen Quang Hai, Hugo Gomes, and Leo Artur (CAHN Club) are valued at the same price as Truong Tuoi Dong Nai's foreign player. He is also currently second in the First Division top scorer list with 9 goals, only 2 goals behind the leader Thaileon of Quy Nhon United.

The squad of Truong Tuoi Dong Nai shows that they are one of the most financially active teams in the First Division over the past two years.

However, the First Division and V.League are two completely different environments. According to regulations, each season, every team in the First Division needs at least 15 billion VND to cover operating costs. The minimum figure for V.League 1 is 50 billion VND.

However, this is only a theoretical figure to meet the regulations. If a team wants to maintain stability, achieve good results, and "thrive," it will need much more than that. In 2021, VPF President Tran Anh Tu stated: "According to my calculations, each team playing in the national championship currently needs a minimum budget of approximately 50 billion VND per year to be able to maintain operations."

Last season, Truong Tuoi Dong Nai refused promotion despite having a special exemption. "We understand that this is a valuable opportunity to be in the highest level of Vietnamese football, so this decision was extremely difficult for the club," the club's statement read.

“However, with a long-term vision, we clearly understand that the club's development must be built on a solid foundation, with fans and the support community at the center and as the core driving force. This is not only a guiding principle for all of the club's activities, but also a strategic goal in the journey of building a professional team with its own identity and sustainable development.”

This season, Dong Nai didn't shy away anymore. They invested more heavily, continued to bring in quality players, and won the championship in a way that reflected their true strength. After a year of delay, Dong Nai is stronger and perhaps ready for the tough V.League competition.

The only thing that raises concerns about Truong Tuoi Dong Nai is perhaps the coaching staff. After replacing coach Nguyen Anh Duc, coach Nguyen Viet Thang did a good job helping the team get promoted. However, the former assistant coachof SHB Da Nang has never been a head coach in V.League 1.

Does the phoenix flower "bloom"?

When Dong Nai returns to the V.League, the biggest focus will naturally be on Cong Phuong. The former HAGL star has a contract with Truong Tuoi Dong Nai until 2027. It is highly likely that the striker born in 1995 will stay with the club in the V.League next season.

This season, due to injury, Cong Phuong has only played 4 matches for Truong Tuoi Dong Nai, but has scored 3 goals, showing the former HAGL star's ability to adapt back to the team. The official website of the Southern team praised the striker wearing the number 10 jersey: "3 matches, all coming on in the second half, 3 goals. Not only is it his third goal in 3 consecutive matches, but it's also a goal that helped Truong Tuoi Dong Nai achieve its biggest goal of the season: the championship and promotion to the V.League."

Appearing in the V.League since 2015, Phuong has consistently proven himself to be one of the best domestic strikers in the league, playing a crucial role for the U23 and national teams for many years. In the 2020 season, after leaving Sint-Truidense (Belgium), the 25-year-old joined Ho Chi Minh City FC and immediately adapted well, scoring 6 goals and providing 3 assists in 12 matches. This demonstrates Phuong's excellent ability to integrate into the team.

However, Phuong has been away from the V.League for quite some time. His last season was in 2022 for HAGL, where he scored 5 goals in 16 matches. Four years have passed since then, a very long time even for someone of Phuong's caliber. He still plays well and shines brightly at Dong Nai, but that's still only the First Division. His ability to reintegrate into the V.League will remain a big question for next season.

Source: https://znews.vn/cong-phuong-con-da-duoc-vleague-khong-post1655870.html