Durable 'sweeper' with Popov's style is on the Vietnamese team

Doan Ngoc Tan – the key player in the midfield.

In the 85th minute of the match between Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong in the 3rd round of the V-League, the visiting team Hai Phong launched an attack hoping to find an equalizer. The entire Thanh Hoa team, including Doan Ngoc Tan, was defending inside the penalty area.

The ball was cleared by Thanh Long, then Lam Ti Phong of Thanh Hoa seized the ball to launch a counter-attack. In just 8 seconds, Ngoc Tan sprinted from his own half, covering approximately 70 meters to receive a pass from his teammate, and executed a header that forced goalkeeper Dinh Trieu to make a full-stretch save.

It's important to emphasize that this was at the end of the match, and Ngoc Tan needed less than 10 seconds to run from his own penalty area to the opponent's goal.

Doan Ngoc Tan (in yellow shirt) in the Thanh Hoa Club jersey.

The 1994-born player's performance is everything coach Velizar Popov needs: energetic, passionate, determined, and unafraid to give his all every minute he's on the field.

In his third year coaching Thanh Hoa FC, Coach Popov continues to surprise viewers. His team still leads the V-League, with a nine-match unbeaten streak. This is the result of an effective physical training method that, in the early days, even left some players "stunned" by the intense workouts. But Thanh Hoa FC persevered. Coach Popov's success is also due to the diligent support he has, such as Doan Ngoc Tan.

Ngoc Tan struggled to find his place at Hai Phong FC, and it wasn't until the 2017 season, at the age of 24, that the midfielder had his first season playing more than 20 matches in the V-League. Ngoc Tan rose to the first team at Hai Phong FC during a period of instability and decline, when the team from the port city was just a shadow of its former self after finishing as runner-up in the 2016 season. In 2021, Ngoc Tan moved to Thanh Hoa FC, also during a period when the Thanh Hoa team was struggling in the middle of the league table.

Despite immediately securing a place at Thanh Hoa FC, Ngoc Tan never earned a spot in the national team. In the V-League, the 30-year-old midfielder was also rarely listed among the top players. This was because he lacked anything exceptional, from long-range shooting and short or long passes to controlling the game.

Only Ngoc Tan's passion was unmistakable. It was only when coach Popov arrived that the importance of the 30-year-old player was confirmed. Having a midfielder willing to fight to the bitter end was a prerequisite for building a disciplined and energetic team.

Midfielder Ngoc Tan (right) has impressive stamina.

Coach Popov understood this and trusted Ngoc Tan alongside Thai Son, forming a formidable midfield duo with some of the highest fighting spirit in the V-League.

Ngoc Tan has played in 50 of Thanh Hoa's last 54 V-League matches. This season, he has appeared in 7 games (a total of 625 minutes). It's worth noting that in the last 12 matches, Ngoc Tan played the full 90 minutes in 11 of them. Approaching the twilight of his career, playing in a physically demanding position like defensive midfielder, Ngoc Tan remains one of the most resilient players.

The Vietnamese national team needs 'fire'.

At 30, Ngoc Tan is not a solution for the future. However, coach Kim Sang-sik should probably just think about the present. Giving a chance to a player who has never played for the national team not only brings strength and muscle to the midfield, but also sends a clear message: opportunities will come to anyone who doesn't give up.

The Vietnamese national team needs youth, experience, and also lesser-known players who give their all on the field, like Ngoc Tan, Chau Ngoc Quang, or Le Pham Thanh Long. The common thread among all three is that they play in midfield. This is also the position where coach Kim Sang-sik is struggling to find talent to overcome the inertia that has persisted since the end of coach Park Hang-seo's tenure.

To compete on equal footing with teams that are already so strong, like Thailand or Indonesia, Kim's players need a fresh impetus. With a flurry of new players joining the national team in the past two months, the momentum could come from the midfield, where fighting spirit will be key to unlocking their potential.

Facing a turning point in his career, Doan Ngoc Tan needs to make a bold sprint, just like he did in the V-League, to "fight against the odds" and reach the 2024 AFF Cup.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doan-ngoc-tan-may-quet-ben-bi-mang-phong-cach-popov-len-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185241119101316514.htm