NEW KID ON THE BLOCK: Midfielder Lương Xuân Trường (centre) trains with his new team, Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh. Photo courtesy of the club

Football

HÀ NỘI  Joining Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh Club, a team relegation fight in V.League 1, may not be seen as a step backward in midfielder Lương Xuân Trường's career.

Instead, he can view it as a stepping stone to come back stronger.

Trường has recently joined Hà Tĩnh on loan from Hải Phòng. While at Hải Phòng, he showcased his experience, technique and good vision, but he often suffered from minor injuries and struggled to maintain his form.

Since joining Hải Phòng in the 2023 season, Trường has never been in the coach's first eleven. He only played four matches, totalling 504 minutes in the league.

Coach Chu Đình Nghiêm has also expressed reservations about Trường. After a match against Nam Định last season, he said: "I was hesitant to use Trường. If it weren't for Mạnh Dũng's injury, I would have only let Trường play for about 30 minutes. I believe he's not in top form yet."

Nghiêm values midfielders who play aggressively and press fiercely, but in his opinion, Trường is a good player but weak in physical disputes. Despite Trường's efforts, it appears that he doesn't align with Nghiêm's philosophy. However, with coach Nguyễn Thành Công at Hà Tĩnh, things are likely to be different.

Công has high praise for the 1995-born midfielder, saying: "Trường is an ideal addition to the team at this time. Having another veteran player who has represented the national team is beneficial for the team."

By bringing in Trường on loan, Công clearly has a plan to use his skills. In a team fighting to avoid relegation, Trường's ability to make long passes and control the game can be maximised.

Furthermore, being in a team that receives less attention will relieve some pressure from Trường. This environment will allow him to relax his mind, regain confidence, and gradually recapture his best form alongside experienced players like Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng.

It's worth noting that Công has a knack for revitalising "forgotten" players. Vũ Quang Nam, who was once deemed surplus to requirements at HCM City, shined at Hà Tĩnh and earned a call-up to the Vietnamese national team under coach Philippe Troussier. Vũ Viết Triều, who often warmed the bench at Bình Định Club, is now an indispensable element of Hà Tĩnh. Similarly, Bùi Văn Đức, Trần Đình Tiến, and Hoàng have actively reclaimed their positions in Công's squad.

Throughout his career, Trường has played for Incheon United and Gangwon FC in South Korea, as well as Buriram United in Thailand. In 2016, he won the Vietnamese Silver Ball Award. He also achieved notable success with the U23 and Olympic teams, finishing second in the AFC U23 Championship in 2018 and fourth in the Asian Games in the same year.

At the age of 29, Trường still has time to rediscover his potential. Judging by the bright smile he wore during his debut for Hà Tĩnh in the 1-1 draw with Hà Nội Police, fans expect that this is the beginning of a new chapter for him in the Hà Tĩnh jersey.

Football has been a part of Trường's life since childhood. His father played a pivotal role in introducing him to the sport.

"My dad really loves football. He always provided me with opportunities to play with balls," Trường recalled.

"He would often take me to watch matches he played with his friends and buy various types of balls, from plastic to leather, for us to play with at home.

"I remember that from a young age, whenever I encountered round objects, I wanted to kick them with my feet. I gradually grew up with the ball. Currently, it's difficult for me to explain why I love football. I believe it's fate."

Trường mentioned that from an early age, he didn't feel too interested in studying, except for English. On the other hand, he feels confident and true to himself when playing football. VNS