The last 'veteran' is about to leave HAGL: Can the younger generation replace him?

Midfielder Tran Minh Vuong is preparing to leave, leaving a big gap in both experience and battle prowess in the HAGL squad.

HAGL is about to say goodbye to Minh Vuong

Midfielder Minh Vuong's future is gradually becoming clear. After 11 years playing in the V-League for HAGL, the player born in 1995 is likely to choose a new destination.

Minh Vuong is in the sights of Binh Phuoc Club (a team currently playing in the first division and owning Cong Phuong). In case Binh Phuoc wins the ticket and the play-off match to play in V-League, the Southeast representative will convince Minh Vuong.

Although he did not grow up from the 1st and 2nd courses of HAGL JMG Academy (but belonged to the gifted class), Minh Vuong is the player of the 1995 - 1996 generation who was once famous and stayed the longest at HAGL. The 30-year-old midfielder played 248 matches for HAGL in all competitions, scoring 50 goals.

Minh Vuong is about to leave HAGL

PHOTO: HAGL Club

Minh Vuong's peak was in the 2019 season with 13 goals in 26 matches. It was Minh Vuong, not any other outstanding factors such as Xuan Truong, Van Toan, Van Thanh... who steered HAGL to stay in the league. This season, when the pillars of JMG courses 1 and 2 were "cleaned up", Minh Vuong stayed, wore the captain's armband and once again made an important contribution to bringing HAGL closer to staying in the league.

In fact, Minh Vuong could have left in the middle of the season, when he received an offer from a first-class team. However, the team's leaders convinced Minh Vuong to stay and support HAGL to stay in the league, and he agreed. The midfielder wearing the number 10 shirt devoted himself to the final matches. He was professional in training and played with all his heart. With his valuable contributions, Minh Vuong deserved to be honored by HAGL in what could be the last match, which took place at Pleiku Stadium against Quang Nam Club in round 26.

Besides Minh Vuong, midfielder Chau Ngoc Quang may also leave. The midfielder born in 1996 has been a regular in the V-League since the 2017 season. After 8 years, Ngoc Quang has played 126 matches, scoring 19 goals. Ngoc Quang and Minh Vuong are the soul of HAGL's midfield this season. Both have more matches and influence than the foreign players that the mountain town team brought in.

Adjacent problem

Since the generation of Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh, Van Toan, Van Thanh... left, HAGL has fallen into a crisis of the next generation.

The leading position in V-League 2021 (before the tournament was canceled), or the brave performance in AFC Champions League 2022 are the final marks that this generation left. It was not until preparing to say goodbye that the generation that Mr. Duc wholeheartedly nurtured bore "sweet fruit".

Tran Thanh Son (number 6) was expected to be the successor to HAGL's midfield.

PHOTO: MINH TU

The mountain town team fell into difficulty afterwards, with positions of 10th place (2023), 11th place (2023 - 2024) and this season is likely to continue to be in the bottom half.

The HAGL factor has gradually disappeared from the Vietnamese team, when now only Chau Ngoc Quang and young goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien remain. The next generation of players such as Dung Quang Nho, Tran Bao Toan, Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Phan Du Hoc... have not shown any signs of being able to carry the mountain town team.

With a thorough rejuvenation this season, the duo of technical directors Vu Tien Thanh and coach Le Quang Trai hope that young players like Trung Kien, Pham Ly Duc, Moi Se, Tran Gia Bao... can accumulate experience and mature to have a place in the first team.

However, like the generation of Cong Phuong and Xuan Truong exactly 10 years ago, the young generation of HAGL lacks seniors who are trustworthy enough to lead the way, advise and shoulder the professional responsibility. Minh Vuong is a rare player who can do that with his leadership qualities, but now, the 30-year-old midfielder is also preparing to leave to find a new horizon on the other side of his career slope.

HAGL team (blue shirt) is not outstanding

PHOTO: MINH TU

Is the next generation of HAGL ripe enough? The current position is the answer. The mountain town team is not relegated, but in terms of strength, it is very difficult for Mr. Le Quang Trai's students to approach the top group.

Next season, when the last pillars of the 1995-1996 generation leave, there will be a huge gap in the first team. HAGL needs to be ambitious and willing to spend to bring in quality domestic players. Over the past 10 years, the mountain town team has not been "strong because of rice" to bring in good domestic players.

Meanwhile, investing in the youth is a "gamble" that not every team in the V-League dares to bet on. Leaving the responsibility to the current generation, HAGL will face a risky journey next season.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cong-than-cuoi-cung-sap-roi-hagl-lua-tre-co-thay-the-noi-khong-1852505251931043.htm