Football

MIdfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (left) receives the award for best player of the V.League 1 2023. Photos of VPF

HÀ NỘI — The national football season has successfully come to an end with remarkable achievements and milestones.

The Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) on August 31 organised a ceremony to honour the best teams, players, and coaches of the season.

Hà Nội Police won the national premier league title, ending their 39 years of waiting. The team were second in history to earn the championship trophy in their first season playing in V.League 1.

Hà Nội FC and Viettel came second and third, respectively.

The V.League 2 saw the top three of Quảng Nam FC, PVF-People's Police and Long An FC.

Thanh Hóa won their first-ever National Cup trophy. They were followed by Viettel, PVF-People's Police and Topenland Bình Định.

Midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức of Viettel was voted the best player of the V.League 1 2023.

Đức overcame other candidates thanks to his shining performance. He played in all 20 matches (1,736 minutes) for the club, scoring five goals and assisting in five.

"I scored and assisted, but I think I still have many shortcomings that must be improved so that I can play better in the next seasons," said Đức, 25.

The midfielder is now under the radar of many foreign scouts, and he confirmed he was ready if there was a suitable offer.

But until it becomes true, he would focus on playing for Viettel and the national team.

"My biggest dream is to have a chance to play at the World Cup. It would be in 2026 or later, but no matter what, I keep faith in Việt Nam's World Cup participation," he said.

Forward Rafaelson Bezerra Fernandes of Bình Định was the top scorer with 16 goals.

Twenty-year-old midfielder Nguyễn Thái Sơn of Thanh Hóa was named the best young player.

Bandovic Bozidar of Hà Nội was named the best coach of the season.

Midfielder Trần Phi Sơn's bicycle-kick goal in a 1-1 draw between Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh and Bình Định was named the best goal of 2023.

The organisers also picked the seasonal dream team, that including goalkeeper Trần Nguyên Mạnh (Nam Định); defenders Vũ Văn Thanh (Hà Nội Police), Nguyễn Thanh Bình (Viettel), Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh (Hà Nội FC), Đoàn Văn Hậu (Hà Nội Police); midfielders Bùi Văn Đức (Hà Tĩnh), Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (Viettel), Nguyễn Hải Huy (Hải Phòng), Lâm Ti Phông (Thanh Hóa); and forwards Rafaelson (Hà Nội Police) and Nguyễn Tuấn Hải (Hà Nội FC).

Hà Nội Police take the V.League 1 trophy at the award ceremony on August 31 in Hà Nội.

The title awards were also given to players in V.League 2.

Midfielder Nguyễn Đình Bắc of Quảng Nam was the best player, while forwards Lê Văn Nam (Quảng Nam) and Nguyễn Thanh Nhàn (PVF-People's Police) were top scorers with 10 goals each.

VPF also delivered awards and certificates to the best match organisers, fair-play club, clubs with the most beautiful grass, best referee and referee assistant.

The 2023 football season was organised under a special competition system. Teams competed in two periods and were classified into two groups based on their first period results. In the second period, the top eight vied for the trophy and the bottom six fought to avoid relegation.

The season was shortened so that organisers could switch the competition to a new time frame that will begin this autumn and end next summer, consistent with the continental and world system.

It was the first time that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) was applied in the domestic league's five matches and received positive feedback. And also, for the first time, national leagues were promoted to supporters through a range of digital platforms. VNS