The Vietnamese team is overjoyed!

The wave of overseas Vietnamese: Who can surpass Jason Quang Vinh and Patrik Le Giang?

Since the 2023 season, when V-League teams were given the "green light" to include overseas Vietnamese players in their squads, several stars of Vietnamese descent living abroad have decided to return to their homeland to contribute.

Among the 10 Vietnamese-born players currently playing for V-League teams, some notable names who have been regular starters include Jason Quang Vinh (CAHN FC) and Patrik Le Giang (TP.HCM FC), both with 10 starts since the beginning of the season.

Patrik Lê Giang returned to Vietnam in 2023. Although his time with CAHN FC only lasted 8 matches, Patrik's efforts were rewarded when he found his "true love" in Ho Chi Minh City FC.

Goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang

At Thong Nhat Stadium, Patrik Le Giang flourished. He shone with spectacular saves that helped Ho Chi Minh City FC avoid relegation at the last minute in the 2023 season. Then, in the 2023-2024 season, having fully integrated into the team, Patrik Le Giang single-handedly led Ho Chi Minh City FC to a fourth-place finish with consistent, European-level performances. He transformed the team from a weak defense into a formidable force.

Jason Quang Vinh is also highly anticipated with his impressive resume: he previously captained the French U.16 team and Sochaux FC, and spent eight years playing in Ligue 2 (the French second division). He is the perfect full-back with speed, agility, defensive skills, and dribbling ability all at a very high level. Jason Quang Vinh has played in 14 out of CAHN FC's 15 matches since the start of the season, including 11 matches where he played the full 90 minutes.

Jason's performance has convinced everyone, as he upgraded the left flank of the CAHN team and perfectly met the tactical requirements of coach Alexandre Polking.

Jason Quang Vinh quickly integrated into CAHN Club.

Several other Vietnamese expatriate players such as Kyke Colonna ( Hanoi FC, 7 starts), Viktor Le (Ha Tinh FC, 3 starts), Leygley Adou Minh (Ha Tinh FC, 8 starts), Thomas Duong Thanh Tung (Binh Dinh FC, all 8 appearances were from the bench), or Pierre Lamothe (recently joined Hanoi FC) have not played regularly.

However, it takes time for Vietnamese players living abroad, who are not yet fluent in Vietnamese and have just joined a new football culture, to adapt.

Among the players of half-Vietnamese descent mentioned above, defender Adou Minh is making the biggest impression. Having played football in France, the player born in 1997 possesses good acceleration, physique, and tackling ability. In all 8 matches he has played for Ha Tinh , Adou Minh has always played the full 90 minutes (never being substituted). He has become an ideal piece of the Ha Tinh defense, helping the team remain undefeated after 11 rounds.

Xuan Son wished her fans a Happy New Year in Vietnamese, and thanked her special dad in Vietnam.

Viktor Lê has only started 3 matches (out of a total of 9 appearances), but at 21 years old, the player of Vietnamese and Russian descent still has a lot of potential to excel. He has Vietnamese citizenship and is ready to play for the U.22 team if selected by coach Kim Sang-sik.

Nationality is the key.

The Vietnamese national team has always welcomed overseas Vietnamese players, as in the cases of Mac Hong Quan, Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, and previously Adriano Schmidt and Michal Nguyen.

To upgrade the Vietnamese national team, coach Kim Sang-sik will utilize all available resources. The emergence of talented players discovered from the V-League such as Dinh Trieu, Ngoc Tan, Ngoc Quang, and Vi Hao is proof of this. Most recently, striker Nguyen Xuan Son became the first naturalized player without Vietnamese ancestry to wear the national team jersey in an official tournament.

Kyle Colonna (left) in Hanoi FC jersey

Xuan Son, Filip, and Van Lam, despite having only half or no Vietnamese blood, are all dedicated, professional, and fight wholeheartedly for their country's colors. Therefore, their origins are no longer an issue.

The only sticking point for Vietnamese players living abroad is citizenship. Nguyen Filip needed 7 months playing in the V-League to obtain Vietnamese citizenship. Viktor Le also has citizenship. Meanwhile, Jason Quang Vinh, Adou Minh, and Lamothe are still in a waiting state.

As for Patrik, it's unfortunate that the Ho Chi Minh City FC goalkeeper still doesn't have Vietnamese citizenship, even though coach Kim Sang-sik has "selected" him and is ready to give him a chance once he becomes a Vietnamese citizen.

Once this bottleneck is resolved, the Vietnamese national team will welcome a wave of talent, making them even stronger.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-ngoi-sao-viet-kieu-ruc-sang-ov-league-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-vui-lay-185250130202652151.htm