The amazing journey from sand shoveler, brick loader to AFF Cup champion

Don't be late to start

Doan Ngoc Tan spoke to Football Magazine, recalling his early days pursuing football. He talked about his childhood in Son Tay, where he and his peers were passionate about football. "Just playing football was fun," he said. This passion took him from children's and youth tournaments to being selected for the U.15 The Cong team - the first turning point that put him on the professional path.

2024 is a wonderful, happy and surprising year for Doan Ngoc Tan

But the journey was not easy. Tan recalled the time he was invited to join the U.15 The Cong team at the age of 15 - an age that he considered quite late to start a professional football career. That decision was not only a challenge for him but also for his family. His parents, although worried about the family's economic situation, still supported their son's dream. He recalled his father's advice: "If you want, we agree, but our family does not have the means. You have to try hard yourself."

The ups and downs of Doan Ngoc Tan

The most difficult time in Doan Ngoc Tan's career came when he was 19-20 years old (around 2012-2013). At that time, he was on the payroll of Mr. Kien's Hanoi Football Club. When Mr. Kien encountered an incident, the club was forced to stop operating, he had to leave his teammates and say goodbye to his unfinished dreams.

“On the last day I had to leave the headquarters of Hanoi Football Club, I was very sad, I had to write a farewell status to my brothers, teammates, and friends. Knowing for sure that the percentage of coming back to continue together was very difficult. At that time, I thought sadly, the door of my life had come here and then closed again, if the mood at that time was really hard to describe. I knew the chance to come back was very difficult,” Tan recalled.

After leaving the club, Tan returned to his hometown to help his father with his work. He did all sorts of jobs, from shoveling sand, carrying bricks to assisting with transporting construction materials. But in his mind, his dream of playing football was always burning. He always carried his shoes and was ready to join any amateur football match whenever he was called.

“In my mind, I still wanted to keep going to see if there was a chance, otherwise I had to accept it,” Doan Ngoc Tan recalled.

Doan Ngoc Tan is also a 'late blooming' talent.

At one point, the family considered sending Tan to work abroad to stabilize his life. He recounted: "My father once said that he should borrow money for me to go to Korea to work. But I refused. I still wanted to stick with football." For him, football is not only a job but also a passion that cannot be given up, even though the situation at that time was very difficult.

“In the family, my father is the breadwinner, my mother is often sick. My father also loves me very much, he wants me to stop playing football and go back to study or something. But I only finished high school, it is very difficult to go to higher education now, the only option is to go to vocational school. To maintain my passion for football, I am always ready to participate in any match when called, even if I have to play two or three matches a day in different localities. During that time, I also helped my father with work, to share the burden, because my father is still the main breadwinner of the family, taking care of everyone, including me. Before, when I was still practicing, I received a small allowance. I always try to save money to take care of my own expenses, limiting the need to ask my parents for money."

Glory comes late but is deserved

In 2015, Doan Ngoc Tan officially entered the V-League in the Hai Phong Club shirt. However, it was not until the 2017 season that he had the opportunity to play regularly with more than 20 matches in a season. Ngoc Tan rose to the first team of Hai Phong Club during a period of instability and decline, when the port city team was just a "shadow" after the runner-up season (2016).

Doan Ngoc Tan in Thanh Hoa Club shirt

Doan Ngoc Tan is a mainstay at Thanh Hoa Club.

Tan's career turning point came in 2020, when he joined Thanh Hoa Club and was led by coach Velizar Popov. Under the Bulgarian strategist's training, he quickly became an important factor. With his tenacious playing style and flexible adaptability, Tan was dubbed "the man without lungs", capable of taking on any position on the field, except goalkeeper.

During his time playing for Thanh Hoa, Doan Ngoc Tan nearly reached the 100-match mark and was a key factor in helping the team win two consecutive National Cup championships, affirming his irreplaceable role in the squad.

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The image of Doan Ngoc Tan's interview was made into a viral meme on social networks at the recent AFF Cup.

Overcoming the challenges, Tan persevered in football. His relentless efforts finally paid off when he returned to professional competition and achieved success. In 2024, at the age of 30, he not only won the title with his club but also won the AFF Cup with the national team – a dream he once thought was far-fetched.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doan-ngoc-tan-hanh-trinh-tuyet-voi-tu-anh-xuc-cat-boc-gach-den-nha-vo-dich-aff-cup-18525011615184669.htm