The costly return of Doan Van Hau

Doan Van Hau marked his return by playing the full 90 minutes in the away match against CAHN at Buriram United in the 2025/26 Southeast Asian Club Championship on December 3rd.

That solid performance promises a bright future for this highly-anticipated defender, both at the club and national team level.

Ignore what people say.

Compared to Nguyen Quang Hai, Doan Van Hau's move abroad is expected to be much more successful. At least, his muscular physique and ideal height of 1.85 meters allow this left-back to be on par with his colleagues in the Netherlands, compared to Nguyen Quang Hai's modest height compared to players in France.

But in the end, Doan Van Hau's return wasn't a triumphant homecoming celebrating his fame that resonated throughout the country, but rather a quiet, solitary journey where he listened to the world's mistakes, because his efforts weren't in vain. That failed overseas stint marked the beginning of a period where Van Hau's career saw more setbacks than successes.

The traumatic event that led to the 1.85-meter-tall defender's career decline was a heel injury in September 2023. Doan Van Hau's first surgery was considered a major event in Vietnamese football.

The surgery was unsuccessful...

...this forced Doan Van Hau to become more withdrawn, putting himself in the shadows, rarely revealing information or images about his subsequent surgeries to avoid public scrutiny and gossip. This was also a way for the defender to find peace of mind, focusing entirely on treatment and recovery to cultivate the will to return to the football field.

Doan Van Hau played well in the match where CAHN drew with Buriram United. Photo: CAHN .

“Life is a series of wonderful moments mixed with difficulties, but you must always keep going. Never give up. It’s great to be back,” the status update written by Doan Van Hau on his personal page on the afternoon of December 4th seems to summarize the past 25 months in the shadows for this defender before stepping into the spotlight at the “Thunder Castle - Chang Arena,” when Van Hau and his teammates at CAHN played away against the very strong Thai football opponent, Buriram United.

Doan Van Hau has indeed gone through a difficult period with many surgeries, at times even receiving advice to retire from football. But in those difficult times, he never faltered, always "keeping going and never giving up," and that day, he received the joy of "returning" thanks to his own willpower.

Shake off the mud and rise up, shining brightly.

The away match against Buriram was a real test for Doan Van Hau. It's important to know that their opponent is a top Thai team with a strong desire to win every game they play.

The rivalry between the two footballing nations, with Thailand no longer holding the upper hand over Vietnam, has intensified the clash between the two clubs in the Southeast Asian tournament. Clearly, having a player who has just recovered from over two years of absence playing in a highly competitive match is a significant risk, unlike Xuan Son's return, as the Vietnamese national team is only facing Laos, a team known for its relatively mild playing style.

Doan Van Hau has temporarily overcome the difficult period. Photo: CAHN .

Just like Kim Sang-sik before Xuan Son, coach Mano Polking anxiously watched Van Hau's movements, worried about the Thai player's straight-leg, forceful, and cunning tackles. But then, the CAHN strategist could breathe a sigh of relief because Doan Van Hau went through 90 minutes of play without injury and with good performance.

Playing as a left-sided back, Doan Van Hau defended very effectively, effectively neutralizing right winger Peter Zulj. The fact that Peter Zulj received the second-lowest rating among all players on the field is proof of Van Hau's ability to manage the left-wing defense.

Not only did he ensure a high level of safety for his team's goal, but this defender also fulfilled the requirement of building up play from the back with incisive passes, thereby executing Coach Polking's tactical plan for a quick transition to attack. It was these outstanding contributions that earned Van Hau the fourth highest rating with 7.1 points, behind only goalkeeper Chatchai Bootprom (7.9 points - Buriram), Leo Artur (7.6 points - CAHN), and Bissoli (7.3 points - Buriram United).

Clearly, this wasn't just a match for Doan Van Hau to regain his goal-scoring form, but also a confirmation of his return both physically and professionally on the field. It's very clear that this defender's presence on the field is extremely significant for CAHN, providing coach Polking with a perfect personnel option for the future. At the same time, Doan Van Hau's return also promises to give the Vietnamese national team an even better option for their defense.

Source: https://znews.vn/su-tro-lai-dat-gia-cua-doan-van-hau-post1608449.html