From the first goalscorer at the World Cup to assistant coach Park Hang-seo.
Considered one of the key figures in Ho Chi Minh City football, Lu Dinh Tuan also made history by scoring the first goal for Vietnamese football at the World Cup. Born in 1968, Lu Dinh Tuan made significant contributions to Saigon Port FC from 1987 to the late 1990s during his playing career.
Lu Dinh Tuan possesses exceptional left foot skills. During his playing career, he was renowned for his incredibly tricky dribbling, speed, and skillful goal-scoring. Lu Dinh Tuan inherited these qualities from his father, Lu Hung Phan, a former Vietnamese football legend. He rose to prominence very quickly despite not having attended a talent academy.
Regional press has likened Lu Dinh Tuan to the Maradona of Vietnam.
In his youth, due to his small stature (less than 1.60m tall), Tuan "the Hedgehog" was not accepted into the gifted sports school by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Sports and Physical Education. However, he was accepted by coach Pham Huynh Tam Lang and brought to Saigon Port. Later, Lu Dinh Tuan became an important player, contributing significantly to the success of the Saigon Port team, winning the National Cup in 1992, the national championship in 1993-1994, and making his mark while playing for the national team at the SEA Games from 1991 to 1995. Notably, Lu Dinh Tuan was the first Vietnamese player to score a goal in the 1994 World Cup qualifiers. That was on April 13, 1993, when Tuan "the Hedgehog" scored against Singapore in a 2-3 defeat. In this qualifying round, the Vietnamese team scored 4 goals. Besides Tuan "the Hedgehog," three other star players also scored: Phan Thanh Hung, Ha Vuong Ngau Nai, and Nguyen Hong Son.
Coach Lu Dinh Tuan's heartfelt concerns
Tuan "the Hedgehog's" exceptional dribbling talent was highly praised by regional media in the early 1990s. A Hong Kong newspaper even compared him to "the Maradona of Vietnam" because of his incredibly fast and skillful ball control, as well as his ability to inspire his teammates with his style of play. However, Tuan "the Hedgehog's" playing career only lasted until the age of 30 due to persistent injuries. Afterward, he became a coach for teams in Ho Chi Minh City such as Saigon Xuan Thanh, Dak Lak , and Becamex Binh Duong.
Lu Dinh Tuan when he was the coach of Becamex Binh Duong Club
During the years that Coach Park Hang-seo led the national team, Lu Dinh Tuan became a valuable right-hand man to the South Korean coach. Lu Dinh Tuan was often assigned to direct the team from the sidelines, shouting encouragement to the players. Tuan "the Hedgehog" was also considered one of the coaches with the most constructive counter-arguments to Coach Park. For example, regarding the players' midday naps. Initially, Coach Park disagreed with allowing Vietnamese players to nap, but Tuan argued that it wasn't just a habit, but also the hot weather conditions that made even a short nap of a few dozen minutes sufficient for players to regenerate energy.
Lu Dinh Tuan is an assistant to coach Park Hang-seo.
The hardships of the coaching profession
Sitting together in the stands watching the U.21 tournament, Coach Lu Dinh Tuan recalled: "Being called 'the Maradona of Vietnam' by the media at the time made me feel proud but also very confused because he was a world legend. Watching Maradona play back then captivated everyone, including me, so when I was compared to a true world-class star, I was very apprehensive. I thought I only had a few similarities to the late Argentinian legend, like being short, having a fast left foot, and speed, but such a comparison was too far-fetched because no one could reach his level and strength. I never expected that name to stick with me throughout my career."
Coach Lu Dinh Tuan encourages U.21 player Le Canh Gia Huy of Ho Chi Minh City.
Speaking about his current job, Tuan "the Hedgehog" confided: "Being a coach is very stressful and it's easy to lose your job. I've truly experienced many different emotions and held various positions from team leader, technical director, head coach to assistant coach. Whenever I take on a job, I give it my all and am always dedicated."
But I admit that I've had many setbacks and my luck has been quite unpredictable. For example, when I was managing Saigon Xuan Thanh in 2013, I was dismissed with just a text message after a few losses. Or when I was managing Ho Chi Minh City FC, I had high hopes of contributing as well as I did when I led the team to promotion, but it didn't lead anywhere. At Binh Duong, I was given a chance, but after a few defeats, I immediately faced fierce criticism because they have a tradition of changing managers very quickly. I don't blame this, I just reflect on my fate. Being a coach involves immense pressure and challenges. If you don't succeed, you have to choose to leave."
Coach Lu Dinh Tuan (left) and his former teammate at Saigon Port FC, Nguyen Hong Pham, are leading the Ho Chi Minh City U.21 team.
Speaking about leading the Ho Chi Minh City U.21 team to the U.22 finals for the first time, Tuan "Nhim" said: "Now that I'm involved in youth football, I feel happy and motivated because I'm truly a son of the city and I really want to contribute a lot to my hometown's football. Ho Chi Minh City's youth teams have been struggling in recent years, and training has been difficult. Former players like myself, Nguyen Hong Pham, and a few other dedicated players really want to do something to fully support the city's football. Regardless of the U.21 team's results in this final round, I hope to create a boost so that the city's youth football receives more attention and better investment, thereby regaining momentum for the future."
Lu Dinh Tuan and his wife watch their son compete in the 1st Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament in 2023.
Last March, many fans repeatedly saw him in the stands at Ton Duc Thang University to watch the first Vietnam Youth and Student Football Tournament 2023 organized by Thanh Nien Newspaper. This was because his son, Lu Dinh Duc Anh, was playing for the home team. Since Duc Anh was too old to participate in the U.21 tournament, Mr. Tuan is guiding his son to excel in his studies while also working and potentially joining a football team to fulfill his passion.
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