Two years of absence and a 15-minute comeback.
On the evening of October 11th, Hanoi Police FC played a training match against Hanoi FC, in preparation for the return of the V.League next weekend. The two teams agreed to divide the match into three 30-minute halves. For Hanoi FC, this was an opportunity for new head coach Harry Kewell to prove himself, just days after officially taking over. Conversely, coach Mano Polking wanted to use this opportunity to give many reserve players a chance to play. Notably, Doan Van Hau – who had been absent for two years due to a heel injury – played for the police team in the final 15 minutes of the last half.
This is precisely the feeling that Van Hau has been agonizing over for the past 24 months. A seemingly simple Achilles tendonitis injury has dragged on, depriving this top-class left-back of the opportunity to play consistently at both club and national team levels. This is also a major lesson in Van Hau's career, as he underestimated the severity of the injury to his right heel. Initially, when he went to Singapore for examination, doctors there assessed that surgery was unnecessary. He only needed to wear a specialized brace to aid movement and rest for 1-2 months. However, the recovery did not go as expected. Flights to the island nation did not improve his condition. In fact, he was even predicted to be out for another 6-8 months due to a more serious injury than initially diagnosed.
Van Hau's friends admit that the player had at times lost patience. He sought help from all directions hoping to find a suitable doctor. Once, Van Hau experienced pain while trying to put on his shoes and run a few meters. He was very frustrated with the problem he was facing. Finally, the player went to South Korea and decided to undergo surgery earlier this year. Simultaneously, the post-operative period and physiotherapy treatment will last from 8 to 12 months.
Knowing that he would have to rest more, Van Hau was sad but understood his situation. He gradually participated in the recovery process with increasing intensity. Recently, according to the coaching staff of Hanoi Police FC, Van Hau has completed his individual recovery phase and can now participate in the group training program. The defender, born in 1999, responded well to the exercises and was even able to participate in moderate-level sparring. This is certainly a sign that the recovery process is progressing smoothly.
“It’s difficult to say exactly when Van Hau will return to playing officially,” said coach Mano Polking. “The only thing I can say is that I’m very happy he’s back. I’ve been a big fan of Van Hau for a long time.” The strategist decided to bring Van Hau on for the last 15 minutes of the match against his former team, Hanoi FC. This period may be short for many players. But for someone who has gone two years without playing top-level football, these were truly moments of great happiness.
Van Hau shared pictures of himself returning to the pitch on social media. He understands that this is not yet the time to return to playing at his best. The recovery period for the player from Hung Yen (formerly Thai Binh) will likely last another 2-3 months. “By now, I’ve practically graduated from the rehabilitation center. I’ve been training with the ball and started training again with my teammates. First, I’ll warm up, pass the ball, practice, then play for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and gradually increase the time. This period is very difficult. I haven’t played since September 2023. I can’t say much right now, I just hope everything goes well. I hope my efforts will be rewarded and I can play again,” Doan Van Hau expressed from the bottom of his heart.
Here she is, Xuan Son!
On the same day that Van Hau returned to the pitch, striker Nguyen Xuan Son also made his comeback with a similar 15-minute appearance. On the evening of October 11th, Nam Dinh played a friendly match against PVF-CAND Youth team. Coach Vu Hong Viet decided to let Xuan Son play towards the end of the match, hoping to help him regain his feel for the ball after 10 months of injury treatment.
The naturalized striker had a dream start to his international career, winning the 2024 AFF Cup with Vietnam. He also won the Best Player and Top Scorer awards for consistently scoring goals for the "Golden Star Warriors" in crucial matches against Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. However, in the second leg of the final, Xuan Son's attempt to pass the ball into the Thai penalty area for a teammate resulted in a broken bone.
Thanks to the efforts of his fellow doctors, the striker was able to undergo surgery early before participating in the post-operative process. From walking with crutches, practicing walking without crutches, limping, running short distances, practicing with the ball, and now participating in competitive matches, Xuan Son calmly carried out the stages of physiotherapy according to the advice of his consulting doctor.
According to Nam Dinh FC, in his brief 15 minutes on the field, Xuan Son quickly demonstrated neat and decisive movements and ball control. This shows that the player is recovering well after his break. It is highly likely that Nam Dinh FC will register Nguyen Xuan Son from the second half of the 2025/26 V.League season, which is early next year. That could be when the striker is ready to start, after regaining his match fitness and peak physical condition. Furthermore, Xuan Son's return in early 2026 would also be a morale boost for the Vietnamese national team.
It is highly likely that in March 2026, when Vietnam hosts Malaysia at home, both Xuan Son and Van Hau will be in top form.
There's no need to rush.
As mentioned above, the clubs and Van Hau and Xuan Son themselves are not in a hurry to rush the process. All parties involved understand that patience will help them avoid repeating the mistakes made in the past.
For Nam Dinh FC, they have become accustomed to life without Xuan Son, placing their trust in Brenner, Kyle Hudlin, and Hansen. Meanwhile, for Hanoi Police FC, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh is gradually filling the void left by Van Hau on the left flank.
For the Vietnamese national team, Quang Vinh is gradually replacing Van Hau's left wing role. However, in Xuan Son's position, neither Tuan Hai, Gia Hung, nor Tien Linh are yet at the level to temporarily fill the role of the naturalized striker.
Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/doan-van-hau-xuan-son-sap-tro-lai-i784432/
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