VietNamNet Bridge – Several Vietnamese players were hired by foreign football clubs but so far no one has succeeded.

Le Huynh Duc, the current coach of Da Nang FC, was the first player who opened the door to the outside world in 2001.

Previously, some players were invited by foreign FC but they could not accept the invitation because of the subsidy mechanism of the old time. Huynh Duc played for Lifan Chongqing club of China through a cooperative agreement between Lifan and his FC – HCM City Police.

Huynh Duc reunited Tavares, the former coach of the national team of Vietnam in 1995, in China. However, because of cultural and language differences, he faced a lot of difficulties. At that time Huynh Duc was the top player in Vietnam but in C-League, he did not perform well. The Vietnamese striker scored only one goal in four games for Lifan.

After Huynh Duc, Viet Thang had a short time with Porto B team during the time he was suspended from football. However, he did not play any game for this FC because of the significant difference in skills between Thang and the local players.

Similarly, in 2005, midfielder Luong Trung Tuan was lent to Thailand Port team by Hoang Anh Gia Lai during Tuan’s two-year suspension in Vietnam. Tuan played many games for the Thai FC but after his suspension ended, he returned to Vietnam because his salary in Vietnam was higher.

Cong Vinh is the first Vietnamese players who joined a EuropeanFC. He played for Leixoes of Portugual in 2009 through the introduction of coach Calisto.

Cong Vinh faced a lot of difficulties in adapting himself to the new team, the new environment. In addition, the local players did not want to pass the ball to him. Before coming back to Vietnam, Vinh played only two games and scored a goal.

A number of Vietnamese players joined FCs in Laos, for example Kieu Thanh Liem, Vo Ut Cuong and Dang Van Lam (HA Attapeu FC) or Le Hong Minh (SHB Champasak FC) and become pillars of these teams. Recently, Chau Phong Hoa, a former player of the national squad, has joined a Cambodian FC after he was refused by Vietnamese teams.

However, success in the overseas leagues of lower quality than the V-League is not something that the players looking for. Now, it is expected to have the first Vietnamese player who plays successfully in the quality tournaments. That will pave the way and encourage young players to strive for greater success.

Viet Ha