Tran Cong Minh: The whirlwind on the right flank

Despite being a young man from a provincial town with humble beginnings, right-back Tran Cong Minh has carved out a prestigious position among the golden generation of Vietnamese football players.

A CRITICAL TURNING POINT IN LIFE

Tran Cong Minh was born in 1970 in Lai Vung District, Dong Thap Province . For the teenagers in the poor village of Lai Vung at that time, the greatest passion was football. Matches on brick fields and rice paddies became the breeding ground for his later career. With his quick, skillful feet and fast dribbling, young Tran Cong Minh could simultaneously "take on" two or three older players.

Tran Cong Minh, from a poor rural boy, has become one of the best defenders in the history of Vietnamese football. PHOTO: ARCHIVE

Few people know that initially, Tran Cong Minh didn't choose football as a career. His family wanted him to finish high school and then pursue a career in education. Cong Minh passed the entrance exam to Dong Thap College of Education (physical education department), intending to return to his hometown and become a physical education teacher after graduation. However, fate led Cong Minh to a different path.

The saying "if it's gold, it must sparkle" perfectly describes Tran Cong Minh's career. Experts quickly recognized the innate talent of this gentle-faced student. His whirlwind runs down the right wing while playing for his school team caught the attention of Dong Thap FC. A professional contract was signed, marking a crucial turning point in the life of this young man from Lai Vung. Cong Minh joined Dong Thap FC at a time when the team boasted "prodigies" like Tran Thanh Nhac, Trinh Tan Thanh, and Huynh Quoc Cuong. Back then, football in the Mekong Delta was in its burgeoning phase, and the competition for starting positions was fierce. Cong Minh had to work incredibly hard to even get a place in the starting lineup. And so, his career began a new chapter.

Tran Cong Minh elevates the RIGHT BACK POSITION TO AN ART ARTISTIC ...IFICIAL ARTISTIC ARTISTIC ARTISTIC ARTISTIC

Compared to other great players of his time, Cong Minh didn't possess the robust physique of Le Huynh Duc, nor was he the type of player who would wow everyone with a single skillful move like Hong Son "the princess." Cong Minh's talent was different, and along with his talent came an almost terrifying perseverance and patience. The young man from Dong Thap not only defended well, marked his opponents extremely closely and tenaciously, but also had whirlwind runs down the wing. Whether he played on rice paddies as a child, then moved to Dong Thap Club and later to the Vietnamese national team, his style remained unchanged.

Tran Cong Minh is likened to a whirlwind on the border. PHOTO: ARCHIVE

Cong Minh elevated the right-back position to an art form with his lightning-fast footwork and dribbling. Fans jokingly said that at one time, the right flank at Cao Lan Stadium (Dong Thap) was so overgrown with grass that it was difficult for it to grow, because Cong Minh ran with such intensity. The defender, born in 1970, was a complete player, excelling in both attack and defense. According to former team manager Duong Vu Lam of the Vietnamese national team: "Cong Minh was one of the best full-backs, playing fiercely, tirelessly running up and down the flank. Cong Minh was the most outstanding player at Dong Thap at that time, and later for the national team."

Cong Minh joined the Vietnamese national team in 1995, amidst a host of talented players who formed the "golden generation" such as Vo Hoang Buu (Saigon Port team), Le Huynh Duc (Ho Chi Minh City Police team), Nguyen Hong Son (The Cong team), and Nguyen Huu Thang (SLNA). Cong Minh gradually affirmed his value and was then given the captain's armband of the Vietnamese national team thanks to his exemplary and meticulous lifestyle and his passionate enthusiasm, to the point that coach Alfred Riedl once said, "If every player were like Cong Minh, the Vietnamese national team wouldn't have to fear anyone."

THE SHOES IN THE TRASH CAN

Playing at right back isn't as prominent as playing as a central midfielder or striker, but Cong Minh cemented his reputation there, displaying such reliability and solidity that coaches automatically assumed the right flank was reserved for the Đồng Tháp winger. Cong Minh's most memorable goal for the Vietnamese national team was a powerful shot into the top corner of the net against Myanmar at the 1996 Tiger Cup, at the Jurong Stadium in Singapore. This was a period when the Vietnamese team was under pressure, especially after a draw against Laos in the group stage. Therefore, a resounding victory against Myanmar, coupled with Cong Minh's rare thunderous shot, was a relief. That year, the Vietnamese team won the bronze medal. Two years later, they won the silver medal at the 1998 Tiger Cup.

Tran Cong Minh (left) had a brilliant playing career alongside the golden generation of Vietnamese football. PHOTO: SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

To date, former star player Tran Cong Minh remains the most accomplished defender in Vietnamese football history. He won the Vietnamese Golden Ball in 1999, and previously the Vietnamese Silver Ball in 1996, and the Bronze Ball in 1997 and 1998. He created a benchmark "wall" that subsequent generations of defenders have yet to surpass.

There's an interesting anecdote about Tran Cong Minh. In 1995, when the Vietnamese national team was training in Switzerland in preparation for the 18th SEA Games, they were honored to be received by the International Football Federation (FIFA). At FIFA headquarters, Sepp Blatter, then FIFA Secretary General, inquired about the team and offered to give the players shoes. These were high-quality Adidas shoes, one with 6 studs and the other with 13 studs. The whole team was delighted with the shiny, lightweight shoes. However, Cong Minh and Huu Dang, accustomed to their old shoes, secretly replaced the soles of the FIFA-gifted shoes with new ones to get used to them. When Weigang found out, he scolded his players and threw the shoes in the trash, but Cong Minh still took them out to wear, leaving the German coach with nothing but a wry smile.

Despite a brilliant playing career, Tran Cong Minh's coaching career was far from smooth. He managed Dong Thap FC from 2003 to 2006, then led Dong Tam Long An as interim coach in the 2008 season. Cong Minh's Long An team performed well, finishing second, just two points behind champions Binh Duong. In 2009, Cong Minh became the official head coach. He then left Long An and in 2015 joined the Vietnamese national team as an assistant coach to Japanese coach Toshiya Miura. In 2016, Cong Minh returned to Dong Thap FC, but couldn't stop the team's decline, resulting in relegation with only one win in 26 matches. This was also Cong Minh's last time managing a V-League team. For the past nine years, he has taken on other roles such as teaching community football and working for a youth academy.

Tran Cong Minh's career has been full of ups and downs, giving him invaluable experiences. For Vietnamese fans, they have all witnessed a Tran Cong Minh full of impact. The former star, born in 1970, has created an indelible image of one of the best defenders in the history of Vietnamese football. (to be continued)

A few years ago, former defender Tran Cong Minh actively collaborated with Thanh Nien Newspaper when Vietnamese football entered major regional and continental tournaments. He wrote many excellent articles with diverse and accurate perspectives on the Vietnamese national team and the U.23 Vietnamese team, which were highly appreciated by readers.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tran-cong-minh-con-loc-bien-phai-185250430210630519.htm