Do Merlo and his dream of spending his whole life in Vietnam.

LEGENDARY VL EAGUE

During the golden age of Da Nang football, when the Chi Lang Stadium was awash in orange, Do Merlo, then known as Gaston Merlo, was beloved by many fans of the team from the Han River. In his V-League debut season, the Argentinian immediately won the top scorer title with 15 goals, contributing nearly a third of the team's total goals and also claiming the Player of the Year award. In the following two seasons, he continued to impress, scoring 19 and 21 goals respectively, achieving a hat-trick of top scorer titles. Across two periods (before naturalization and as a domestic player) playing in the V-League, Do Merlo scored a total of 157 goals, won the V-League championship twice, and was awarded the top scorer title four times.

Do Merlo is not only a legend of Da Nang FC but is also considered one of the "icons" in the V-League with his excellent professional skills and unwavering dedication.

Looking at those statistics, Do Merlo deserves to be ranked among the most talented foreign players in V-League history. However, the "legacy" this striker leaves behind is not just goals and titles, but also an unwavering spirit of effort. When he first arrived in Vietnam, he wasn't highly regarded because he couldn't showcase the flamboyant skills of Huynh Kesley, mainly scoring goals with his head. Over time, Do Merlo gradually perfected his footwork, becoming increasingly impressive in his finishing. Even at the age of 36, he remained a key player for Saigon FC, scoring 10 goals between 2021 and 2023. At 39, he continued to play for Ho Chi Minh City Youth FC in the second division, making a significant contribution to helping the team gain promotion to the first division.

Do Merlo's son

Do Merlo's passionate spirit is also shown through his tears. In the 2020 and 2021 seasons, he broke down in tears when he couldn't help Nam Dinh and Saigon FC achieve the desired results. It's rare to see a foreign player play with such heart as Do Merlo. This spirit of dedication has become an inspiration for many Vietnamese players, especially those who have spent time with the Argentinian striker.

DEDICATING MY HEART TO VIETNAM

Do Merlo's long career in football is largely thanks to his Vietnamese citizenship in 2017. At 32, he remains a highly valuable "domestic player" for many V-League clubs. He shared with Thanh Nien Newspaper: "Vietnam completely changed my life. This is the country that opened the door for me to showcase my abilities. I will be grateful to Vietnam for life, grateful to the teams I've played for and all the people who helped me become a Vietnamese citizen. Naturalization strengthens the teams and also helps me extend my career a little further."

Do Merlo's happy family

The striker added: "I think having Vietnamese citizenship has helped me a lot. I have people who believe in my abilities and I can write my own story in another country, with people who consider me one of their compatriots. That means a lot."

In 2023, Do Merlo announced his retirement due to age, which prevented him from competing in the V-League. However, after helping the Ho Chi Minh City Youth team gain promotion in 2024, he officially hung up his boots. Afterward, the striker returned to his homeland Argentina to study for his coaching license, preparing for a coaching career. He shared: "I miss Vietnam every day. My wife and children love Vietnam. I always plan to return to Vietnam with my family. I know it will happen soon. This year, I will complete my coaching course and receive my certificate. I am learning a lot, searching for information to become a good coach. I am working with a local team in Argentina and we have reached the professional third division."

Do Merlo said he has always dreamed of coaching Da Nang FC, the team that made his name. However, he is not sure about this possibility. If any team in Vietnam extends an offer, he will accept it. This is because Do Merlo and his family always want to live in Vietnam long-term: "I definitely want to live and work in Vietnam, so I am studying to become a coach and return there. Hopefully, my children can also complete their education in Vietnam."

Besides reasons related to football, the former striker had many other reasons to return to Vietnam: "I love everything about Vietnam. The climate in Vietnam is beautiful. In Argentina, we have very cold months and I don't like that. Vietnamese food is delicious, just a little spicy, but there are unique dishes like beef pho and fried rice. But what I like most is the Vietnamese people. They are humble, affectionate and respectful. Everything here is very different." (to be continued)

Who is Do Merlo?

Do Merlo, whose real name is Sebastian Gaston Merlo, was born on January 26, 1985, in Argentina. Before moving to Vietnam to play in 2009, he spent nine years playing for smaller clubs in his homeland. In the V-League, he played for Da Nang, Nam Dinh, Saigon, and Ho Chi Minh City Youth teams, and was well-loved by the fans of these clubs. During his time playing in Vietnam, he was a top striker and was always highly regarded for his goal-scoring instincts and independent play. He is the second-highest scorer in V-League history, only behind Hoang Vu Samson.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/do-merlo-va-giac-mo-gan-bo-tron-doi-voi-viet-nam-185250218214926939.htm