"Steel Shield" Tran Trung Kien

Among the young goalkeepers called up by coach Kim Sang-sik to prepare for the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, Tran Trung Kien has the most professional matches.

The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship will kick off on July 15 in Indonesia.

This goalkeeper started 24/26 matches for Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club (HAGL) in the V-League last season. With a total of more than 32 appearances in the V-League in the last 3 seasons, Trung Kien has not only accumulated experience in top-level competition but also proven his mettle in decisive matches.

Tran Trung Kien is the leading candidate for the goalkeeper position of the Vietnam U22 team. Photo: QUOC AN

The height of 1.91 m is a highlight that helps Trung Kien dominate in aerial situations. However, his remarkable progress also lies in his ability to read situations, enter and exit appropriately and have a stable competitive mentality. Technical Director of HAGL Club Vu Tien Thanh commented: "Trung Kien has matured a lot in the past 2 years. He is now a reliable stopper, demonstrated through his stability and impressive saves in the V-League".

Growing up from HAGL Academy, Trung Kien won the title of "Best Goalkeeper" of the 2023 National U21 Tournament - where U21 HAGL won the championship. From there, Trung Kien took a place in the HAGL first team, scoring points with the national team's coaching staff.

During the training sessions of U22 Vietnam under coach Kim Sang-sik, Trung Kien was always the main goalkeeper in internal and friendly matches. In the two friendly matches with all wins against U23 Chinese Taipei in Vung Tau, he was in the starting lineup and played solidly.

Commenting on his student, coach Dinh Hong Vinh, who used to lead the national U22 team, assessed: "Trung Kien has modern tactical thinking, good communication with the defenders clearly. He is not only good at catching the ball but also has the ability to support launching good attacks."

U22 Vietnam is entering the final training phase in Ba Ria - Vung Tau , before leaving for Indonesia to participate in the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. In the 3-4-3 tactical formation of the Korean strategist, the goalkeeper position is not only a goalkeeper but also plays the role of initiating quick counterattacks - something that the coaching staff has high expectations for Trung Kien.

The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship is not only where U22 Vietnam aims to defend its title, but also an important stepping stone for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand later this year and the 2026 Asian U23 qualifiers.

If he continues to maintain his stable performance and develop his full potential, the young goalkeeper of HAGL can completely become the number 1 goalkeeper of Vietnamese football in the near future. This is in line with the criteria of building a young, versatile, physically strong Vietnamese team and ready to go further with a new identity of coach Kim Sang-sik.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/la-chan-thep-tran-trung-kien-19625071219102817.htm