Decoding Ninh Binh's success

Success from transfer

Even when they were still in the 2024/25 First Division, Ninh Binh surpassed the league thanks to their strong squad. This team spent nearly 30 billion VND in signing money to convince Nguyen Hoang Duc to temporarily leave V.League and play in a lower-level league. The ancient capital team continued to spend money to get many Vietnamese players such as goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, defender Do Thanh Thinh, center back Nguyen Huu Tuan, midfielder Nguyen Duc Viet or strikers Le Minh Binh, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Dinh Thanh Binh...

Decoding Ninh Binh's success -0 — Ninh Binh transformed thanks to a strong lineup.

With such a strong firepower, it is no surprise that Ninh Binh dominates the National First Division. In 20 rounds last season, the team led by coach Nguyen Viet Thang defeated their opponents 19 times. Only once did Ninh Binh lose a victory to their opponent. That was also the time when the team was… disappointed because they could not create an absolute score in the First Division.

With the certainty of early promotion to V.League, Ninh Binh quickly planned to “go shopping” since the middle of last season. Many sources confirmed that this club had contacted a series of national players such as Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, Ho Tan Tai or Vo Hoang Minh Khoa. Although this story quickly ended as a rumor, in the professional world, it was enough to see how the preparation process for the ancient capital club’s V.League ambition was implemented.

Last summer, Ninh Binh also strengthened the depth of the squad with a squad of foreign players, overseas Vietnamese and domestic players of high quality. It is estimated that the investment for this team's transfers alone is up to around 60 billion VND! Thanks to that, Ninh Binh has in its hands Dung Quang Nho, Chau Ngoc Quang, Tran Bao Toan, Nguyen Duc Chien, Tran Thanh Trung, Gustavo Henrique, Geovane,...

Of course, Ninh Binh also experienced some difficulties in the transfer process. Typically, the two deals of Nguyen Duc Chien and Tran Thanh Trung. However, after the negotiation process, this potential team also owned two capable central midfielders, contributing to the operation of the modern style of play built by coach Gerard Albadalejo. If there is one regrettable thing in this story, it is that Ninh Binh could not successfully borrow Van Thanh from the Hanoi Police Club. If this national player was in hand, this club would be like "a tiger with wings".

Favorable schedule and commendable play

Ninh Binh started the 2025/26 V.League with mid-table opponents. Hong Linh Ha Tinh , the club that finished 5th last season, has just gone through a summer of many changes. Coach Nguyen Thanh Cong, midfielder Luong Xuan Truong, center back Adou Minh... said goodbye to the Central region. On the other hand, new coach Nguyen Cong Manh has not been able to find enough quality replacements to fill the void. It was no surprise that Hong Linh Ha Tinh lost 1-3 to Ninh Binh at home.

In the next round, Ninh Binh will play at home against Thanh Hoa. Although the Central team has made positive changes in brand recognition and brought in central defender Que Ngoc Hai, overall, new coach Choi Won Kwon has not been able to achieve uniformity in the quality of the squad. Not to mention, Thanh Hoa's foreign players did not play well in the early stages of the season. This is also the reason why the representative of Thanh Hoa "lost their shirt" 4 goals to nil against the new V.League player.

In the most recent round, Ninh Binh traveled to Da Nang - a club that had just escaped relegation 2 months ago. Coach Le Duc Tuan's team also did not have many notable additions during the transfer process. With a disorganized squad, Bui Tien Dung and his teammates could not create a surprise against the ancient capital team.

Becoming the only team in V.League 2025/26 to win all 3 matches in the first season, coach Gerard Albadalejo breathed a sigh of relief and happiness. It is called a sigh of relief because before this season, the Spanish strategist was under a lot of pressure about expectations and achievements. The fact that the 2 compatriots he brought in, Pedraza and Victor Morales, could not prove their abilities made this coach even more worried about the future.

However, the modern, well-organized style of play, making good use of the resources available in Ninh Binh, has helped Mr. Gerard Albadalejo overcome the difficult situation. The trust of fans, not only at Ninh Binh Club, for the Spanish strategist has increased many times after the last 3 convincing and beautiful victories.

“Winning all three matches at the beginning of the season is not easy. We did it thanks to the solidarity, humility and effort of the whole team. Da Nang caused a lot of difficulties, especially in the first half. But we controlled the game better after the break and took advantage of our opportunities more effectively,” said coach Gerard Albadalejo after the 3-1 victory over Da Nang. “We will focus on the National Cup match against the home team Gia Dinh first, then think about the derby with Nam Dinh in round 4. Discipline, determination and the right attitude are the most important things right now.”

After the FIFA Days break in September, Ninh Binh will enter two important matches. That is the match against Gia Dinh in the National Cup, before facing the reigning champion Ninh Binh. "I think it will be a very good match and worth waiting for", midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc expressed.

The field changes "clothes"
Also during the sublimation period, Ninh Binh's stadium was given a new coat of paint. The stadium focused on upgrading the audience experience and the quality of the competition. The entire grandstand was repainted, the VIP area was replaced with modern seats, while the B grandstand was installed with synchronized seats for the first time.
These improvements not only enhance the aesthetics but also bring more convenience and comfort to fans when they come to cheer. The most notable highlight is the replacement of the playing field with Zeon Zoysia grass. This is one of the top quality grass types today, meeting FIFA and AFC standards. Construction began on June 30, the new grass field was completed on schedule and is ready for professional matches.
In addition, the lighting system has also been significantly upgraded with a system of lights with superior brightness, ensuring the best image quality for matches taking place at night, fully meeting the requirements of live television.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/the-thao/giai-ma-thanh-cong-cua-ninh-binh-i779702/