The 'steel' central axis of the Vietnam U.23 team!

The Vietnam U.23 team will begin a new cycle based on the highly anticipated central axis that coach Kim Sang-sik had prepared beforehand.

Central defender Le Nguyen Hoang has extensive experience playing for the Vietnam U.23 team in major tournaments.

Photo: Minh Tú

Vietnam U23 reinvents itself.

Officially assembled on March 17th, the Vietnam U23 team is currently being led by interim head coach Dinh Hong Vinh, featuring many new faces, but still maintaining a solid core as a foundation for their journey over the next two years.

Nguyen Quoc Toan, Nguyen Anh Tuan (PVF-CAND), Tran Hai Anh (Quang Ninh Club), Nguyen Trong Son ( Bac Ninh Club), Ta Xuan Truong (Ninh Binh Sports Training Center II), Vu Quoc Anh (Hai Phong Club), Truong Nhac Minh (Ho Chi Minh City Club), Mai Quoc Tu, Nguyen Trung Nguyen (Da Nang Club)... are the potential talents selected by coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues from a preliminary list of up to 100 players who are regularly monitored and updated.

Essentially, these players will be the focus of observation by interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh, with the aim of creating effective additions to the existing squad, which the Vietnam U.23 coaching staff has been preparing for several years.

That will be a notable central axis, starting from the goalkeeper position with Cao Van Binh and Pham Dinh Hai, who participated in the 2026 U.23 Asian Championship in Saudi Arabia (with Hoa Xuan Tin as a reserve).

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh has been tasked with preparing the foundation for the Vietnam U.23 team.

Photo: Minh Tú

Taking on the crucial task of shielding these goalkeepers will be the central defensive line, featuring players who were already invested in by the VFF, most notably Le Nguyen Hoang.

Born in 2005, Le Nguyen Hoang is considered one of the most promising young central defenders in Vietnamese football. He was part of the Vietnam U23 team that participated in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou at the age of 18 and the 2024 AFC U23 Championship, impressing with his calm demeanor, excellent situational awareness, and strong tackling ability.

A similar story could unfold with Dinh Quang Kiet, the 1.95m tall young man born in 2007 who is truly a solid wall for HAGL in the V-League 2025-2026.

At the age of 18, Quang Kiet, after being personally tested, evaluated, and discussed with by coach Kim Sang-sik, has gained valuable experience with both the Vietnam U.23 team and the senior Vietnam national team, preparing him to aim for a key role in the Vietnam U.23 team at the upcoming ASIAD 20, as well as the Southeast Asian U.23 Championship and the SEA Games next year.

Quang Kiet's superior physique will help strengthen the defense of the Vietnam U.23 team.

Photo: Minh Tú

In the midfield, we have Tran Thanh Trung (Ninh Binh FC) firmly in his role as playmaker alongside Cong Phuong (The Cong Viettel ) controlling the game. In addition, there are Nguyen Vadim (Da Nang FC), Le Dinh Long Vu, Nguyen Quang Vinh (SLNA), and Thai Ba Dat (PVF-CAND).

The attacking line will feature Van Thuan, the hero of the recent SEA Games 33 in Thailand, along with Le Phat, who scored at the 2026 U.23 Asian Championship in Saudi Arabia, and Minh Tam, the 1.81m tall center forward who has scored 3 goals for HAGL in the V-League this season.

Clearly, the U23 Vietnam team, even with a revamped lineup, has maintained a reliable central core, with rich experience serving as a foundation for the new generation of players preparing to be "tested" at the CFA Team China 2025 friendly tournament in Xin'an (China).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truc-doc-thep-cua-u23-viet-nam-185260319183851207.htm