No individual is greater than the collective.

VHO - When Nguyen Xuan Son, the scorer of 31 goals that helped Nam Dinh win the V.League 2023/24 title, had to take a long break due to injury, many people doubted whether the team from Nam Dinh could still be the same.

Nam Định deservedly won the V.League 2024/25 championship.

A season without a star striker, without their usual source of goals, but the answer after 25 rounds is clear proof: Nam Định not only survived, but also won the championship for the second consecutive time one round early.

From patching up the attack to a tactical revolution.

Xuan Son was not simply the top scorer in the V.League 2023/24, but also embodied the dominance of the Nam Dinh team. However, after shining at the AFF Cup 2024 and being recalled to the national team, Xuan Son unexpectedly suffered a serious injury in the final match against Thailand. Diagnosis indicated he would be out of action for at least 9 months.

This was a significant blow for the Nam Dinh team, especially as they entered the new season with ambitions to defend their title. In this context, what fans were curious about wasn't how long Xuan Son would be absent, but rather: how would Nam Dinh perform without him?

Like any team that once relied on a single individual, Nam Dinh was forced to find a new direction. Coach Vu Hong Viet's initial experiments, such as using Joseph Mpande, did not prove effective.

Instead, they have a completely new "trident": Brenner - Ti Phong - Ly Cong Hoang Anh. None of them are true center forwards, but that's precisely what makes it special: Nam Dinh isn't trying to create a "new Xuan Son," but has shifted entirely to a collective approach to scoring goals.

With a flexible formation, utilizing players with wide movement and short passing combinations, Nam Dinh has built a highly connected attacking system. Although not as explosive as last season, reaching 50 goals, making them the highest-scoring club of the season, demonstrates the effectiveness of the team's attack. They don't have a single prolific goalscorer, but they have more than 10 players who have scored goals.

Ly Cong Hoang Anh scored 7 goals despite playing in midfield. Ti Phong and Brenner consistently shone in big matches. Even set pieces became a potent weapon with their diverse strategies.

Nam Dinh has proven that you don't need a star to shine if the whole team shines together.

Xuân Son is absent, but we have coach Vũ Hồng Việt.

Unlike the previous season, Nam Dinh entered the 2024/25 V.League season with a serious shortage of players. Their opening match loss to Hong Linh Ha Tinh was a surprising result that led many to doubt their ability to defend their title.

After the first six rounds, Nam Dinh was languishing in the middle of the league table. But from round 7 onwards, under the guidance of coach Vu Hong Viet, the team started to get back on track and never left the top two positions from then until the end of the season.

This stability is not accidental. The team has demonstrated the ability to rotate its squad effectively, cope with injuries, and maintain a consistent playing style throughout a nine-month season. If Nam Dinh was a phenomenon last season, this season they are the true champions, with consistent performance and the highest goal-scoring efficiency in the league.

The Nam Dinh team no longer relies on a single superstar, but rather on a diverse and sharp attacking lineup. While the offense is what makes Nam Dinh stand out in terms of efficiency, the defense is the foundation that led coach Vu Hong Viet's team to the championship. After 25 rounds, the Nam Dinh team conceded fewer than 20 goals, the fewest in the league. This number is significantly higher than last season (37 goals conceded), showing clear progress.

Coach Vu Hong Viet has built a highly disciplined defensive system, in which the midfield provides excellent support to the defense. The central defensive pairing frequently changes due to injuries, but the team spirit and high tactical awareness help Nam Dinh always stand firm under the greatest pressure.

Therefore, behind the successful defense of the championship title lies the strong imprint of coach Vu Hong Viet. He not only demonstrated his coaching abilities but also proved his tactical vision and courage in adjusting the team's system.

When comparisons began to be made between seasons with and without Xuan Son, Mr. Vu Hong Viet did not complain at all. On the contrary, he remained steadfast in his principle that "football is a team sport ": "We don't put pressure on anyone. Anyone can score, anyone can take responsibility," he affirmed in press conferences.

After 100 matches leading Nam Dinh, Coach Vu Hong Viet has achieved over 50 victories, won 4 Coach of the Month awards, and now boasts two consecutive V.League championships – an achievement previously only accomplished by Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem and the late Coach Le Thuy Hai. Xuan Son may have been the brightest star last season. But this season, the most consistently shining star is none other than the coach born in 1979 on the coaching bench.

A well-deserved victory.

Nam Dinh's journey to the championship was marked by many pivotal victories. The 3-0 win against Hanoi FC in round 21 was a major turning point. It was not only a victory against a direct competitor, but also a strong affirmation of the champion's character.

In the penultimate round, during their away match at Tam Ky Stadium, Nam Dinh continued their impressive form by winning 2-0 against Quang Nam thanks to goals from Ly Cong Hoang Anh and Lam Ti Phong. Meanwhile, Hanoi FC fell to The Cong with a score of 1-2, officially ending their hopes of competing for the championship.

Nam Dinh FC is one of the most historically significant football clubs in Vietnam. With this year's championship, they have won the V.League twice in a row, and if counting from before the V.League was established, this is the third time the club has won the national championship (after 1985).

This is a huge step forward for a team that struggled at the bottom of the league table in the previous decade. From its early days as Ha Nam Ninh Industrial, then Nam Ha Nam Dinh, to Nam Dinh today, that journey is a symbol of perseverance and sustainable rebuilding.

Even without Xuan Son, the championship title remains in Nam Dinh. This is not just a victory for one team, but also a message to the entire football scene: Don't place too much expectation on an individual. Because when the team is strong enough, every gap can be filled with character, unity, and an unyielding spirit.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/khong-ca-nhan-nao-lon-hon-tap-the-145123.html