A boost for young Vietnamese players?

While celebrating their third consecutive championship title at the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, figuring out how to turn this generation of young players into pillars of the Vietnamese national team in the future is no simple matter.

Whether center-back Ly Duc will get much playing time in his new team remains to be seen - Photo: A.KHOA

Upon returning to their respective clubs, many U23 players are often benched for extended periods or given limited opportunities to play. Could winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship be the impetus for them to get more playing time?

Kim's optimism

The reason for asking this is that players like Khuất Văn Khang, Đình Bắc, Quốc Việt, Văn Trường, Thái Sơn, Phạm Lý Đức, and goalkeeper Trung Kiên are not yet true stars of Vietnamese football. Nevertheless, the U23 players still offer optimism to coach Kim Sang Sik if given more opportunities to play.

Besides the names mentioned above, coach Kim Sang Sik also highly rated the abilities and development potential of center-back Hieu Minh, defender Phi Hoang, midfielder Xuan Bac, and Cong Phuong.

Not only did Hieu Minh defend well, but he also scored a brace in the match against U23 Laos. Phi Hoang was the player with the most assists for U23 Vietnam's goals on the left wing. Xuan Bac shone in midfield and scored the decisive goal against U23 Philippines in the semi-finals. 19-year-old Cong Phuong scored the only goal against Indonesia to lead U23 Vietnam to the championship title.

Evaluating his players after the tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik said: "I always believe that young players can make breakthroughs in a short period of time if they play regularly. If Cong Phuong or Van Thuan get regular playing time in the V-League, I believe the Vietnamese national teams at all levels will become significantly stronger."

Is reality just a dream?

Immediately after winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, coach Kim Sang Sik began preparing for the 2026 Asian U23 Championship qualifiers in September and the 33rd SEA Games at the end of the year. He will start scouting players when the V-League and First Division 2025-2026 seasons begin. The question is whether both existing players and new talents will have ample opportunities to play.

Players who could get a lot of playing time in the new 2025-2026 season include Dinh Bac (Hanoi Police), Nguyen Van Truong (Hanoi FC), Khuat Van Khang (The Cong - Viettel), goalkeeper Trung Kien (HAGL), Thai Son, Le Van Thuan, Ngoc My (Thanh Hoa), Nhat Minh (Hai Phong), Hieu Minh, Xuan Bac (PVF-CAND), Phi Hoang, Duc Anh (SHB Da Nang)... But many other U23 players are not guaranteed.

Being a regular starter for HAGL in the V-League 2024-2025 has helped center-back Pham Ly Duc mature significantly.

He was given opportunities not only by coach Kim Sang Sik in the U23 team but also in the Vietnamese national team. However, Ly Duc will wear the jersey of Hanoi Police FC in the new 2025-2026 season. Whether this 1.82m tall central defender will be able to play much there is a question mark because in a team with many stars like Hanoi Police FC, the competition is very high.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has a lot of work to do with the current generation of young players - Photo: DANH KHANG

Difficulties await many U23 players.

This is because last season, former captain of the Vietnam U23 defense, Tran Quang Thinh, who won the 2022 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, didn't get much playing time due to the presence of stars like Hugo Gomes, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Dinh Trong, and Giap Tuan Duong. Recently, Quang Thinh had to choose to join Truong Tuoi Dong Nai Club to play in the First Division 2025-2026.

Striker Quoc Viet also faces difficulties upon returning to his parent club. After gaining promotion to the V-League, Ninh Binh FC has brought in many attacking stars, especially foreign players. Therefore, the chances of Quoc Viet playing as frequently as he did in the First Division in 2024-2025 are very slim.

Cong Phuong, Dang Tuan Phong, and Thanh Dat also find it difficult to get much playing time for The Cong - Viettel Club. Last season, Cong Phuong played 15 matches in the V-League, but in reality, only started 2 of them. Center-back Dang Tuan Phong played 9 matches (5 as a starter).

After the 2024-2025 First Division season, Thanh Dat played a lot for Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc Club on loan, but now he will find it difficult to get many playing opportunities upon returning to The Cong - Viettel Club.

NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cu-hich-cho-cau-thu-tre-viet-2025080208500136.htm