Overseas Vietnamese midfielder Tran Thanh Trung accelerates with U.23 Vietnam: SEA Games 33 dream

Tran Thanh Trung will need to score decisive points with coach Kim Sang-sik when U.23 Vietnam has a decisive training session to prepare for SEA Games 33.

Tran Thanh Trung is trying hard to integrate into Vietnamese football.

Photo: Ninh Binh FC

Tran Thanh Trung overcomes difficulties

On November 5, Tran Thanh Trung will play with Ninh Binh FC in round 11 of V-League 2025 - 2026 against SLNA at home, before flying to the South to play away at Thong Nhat Stadium of Ho Chi Minh City Police Club on November 9 in round 11.

Those will be two very important matches for Vietnamese-American midfielder Tran Thanh Trung, who returned home with high expectations but his time playing in the V-League was interrupted because he needed time to adapt to the climate, Vietnamese football and injuries.

Fortunately, in the last 3 matches against opponents including Hanoi FC, PVF-CAND and Becamex TP.HCM, the player born in 2005 has shown clear integration, making coach Albadalejo confident in giving him a starting position in the Ninh Binh FC squad.

Tran Thanh Trung (red and black shirt) in the match against Hai Phong Club

Photo: Ninh Binh FC

Unfortunately, when everything was getting better, Tran Thanh Trung was unlucky, when an injury forced him to leave the field early in the 25th minute of the match against Becamex TP.HCM.

The injury is not serious, but according to feedback from Ninh Binh FC, it is highly likely that he will not be able to play from the beginning, and may not even be on the registration list of the ancient capital team in round 10 on November 5. He may return in round 11, when Ninh Binh FC plays on November 9.

This could affect Tran Thanh Trung's competitiveness, as the Vietnam U.23 team will gather soon after, fly to China to participate in the CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025 friendly tournament, then participate in the 33rd SEA Games.

Waiting for Tran Thanh Trung to speed up

Tran Thanh Trung in the U.23 Vietnam jersey during a training session in the UAE

Photo: VFF

Tran Thanh Trung once joined the Vietnam U.23 team while waiting to recover from injury, but his first training sessions made a good impression on the coaching staff. Although he did not participate in the U.23 Asian qualifiers, he received the attention of coach Kim Sang-sik.

During the FIFA Days training session last October, Tran Thanh Trung and the Vietnam U.23 team flew to the UAE to compete in two matches against Qatar U.23, where he was one of several names that received praise from interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh.

Mr. Vinh said: "This is a very good opportunity for new faces to show themselves, and I must say that many players have left a positive impression. Players like Tran Thanh Trung, Vadim Nguyen, Nguyen Tan, Long Vu, Le Phat ... show confidence, desire and a very good spirit of integration.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has a good impression of Tran Thanh Trung.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Although they still lack international competition experience, they are improving through each training session and each match, and I believe that if they continue to maintain this progressive attitude, they can absolutely compete for a position at the 33rd SEA Games."

Not being able to continue his streak of consecutive starts for Ninh Binh FC is a big regret for Tran Thanh Trung. However, a modern playing style and smart tactical vision when playing alongside Hoang Duc in the midfield is also what coach Kim Sang-sik is looking for to improve the U.23 Vietnam midfield.

Hopefully, once he has adapted to the weather conditions and football culture in Vietnam, Tran Thanh Trung will soon recover and play well in the V-League, creating momentum for the competition for positions in the upcoming key stage of U.23 Vietnam, preparing for the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tien-ve-viet-kieu-tran-thanh-trung-tang-toc-cung-u23-viet-nam-giac-mo-sea-games33-185251104212915577.htm