Midfielder Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng (right) seen in a V.League 1 match. — Photo vietbao.vn

Football

Thanh Nga

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng was a key cog in the Viettel machine that secured the V.League 1 title this year, marking the fourth time the midfielder has lifted the trophy for three different clubs.

The 31-year-old player played for Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA), Becamex Bình Dương, FLC Thanh Hóa before joining Viettel in 2019. He previously won the championship with SLNA in 2011 and Becamex Bình Dương in 2014 and 2015.

"I am very happy and proud to take the V.League 1’s title for the fourth time. Winning the league with three different teams is the result of my efforts and striving,” said Hoàng.

This achievement helped Hoàng equal the record of former footballers Nguyễn Minh Phương and Võ Văn Hạnh who both won four V.League 1 titles for three different clubs.

Midfilder Phương won the title with Sài Gòn Port in 2002, Đồng Tâm Long An in 2005 and 2006 and Đà Nẵng in 2012. Goalkeeper Hạnh triumphed with SLNA in 2001, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in 2003 and 2004 and Đà Nẵng in 2009.

In 2019, after being promoted to the top flight, Viettel signed the Nghệ An province native to add to a largely youthful team which finished sixth in the 2019 season.

At Viettel, Hoàng has been a key player in the past two seasons with three different coaches including Lee Heung-sil, Nguyễn Hải Biên and Trương Việt Hoàng. Whether at the national team or at the club, Hoàng always shows his great influence and experience.

In addition to four V.League 1 titles, Hoàng has also won two National Cups and three Vietnamese Super Cups.

At the national team level, he won the AFF Cup 2018, the SEA Games 2019 with U22 Việt Nam and reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

Winning many awards that every player dreams of, but Hoàng affirms he isn’t satisfied with what he has.

"After this year’s championship, I always think that I have to work harder and harder. As long as I play, I will always devote myself to football,” said Hoàng.

Midfielder Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng (middle) celebrates the V.League 1 title with his teammates. — Photo thethao247.vn

Hoàng is considered an aggressive, hard-working player but is more than a clogger and won the Silver Ball award in 2011 when SLNA won the league.

After a series of successes with Vietnamese teams last year, Hoàng won the Bronze Ball award for 2020.

Growing up

Hoàng was born in 1989 and raised in Xuân An Town, Nghi Xuân District in Nghệ An Province.

The first turning point in his life was in 1998 when his family moved to Vinh City which was also close to SLNA. In the first year at Lê Lợi Primary School, Hoàng was selected to be captain of the municipal team to play in the provincial sports festival and led the team to second place.

"Then, at about 11 years old, Hoàng was selected by coaches of SLNA football training centre and learned there,” said Hoàng’s father, Nguyễn Trọng Hường.

According to Hường, Hoàng always topped the list after the centre tested players in age groups. He was promoted to the senior team of SLNA earliest among young players in 2007.

In his midfield position, Hoàng played tirelessly and was selected in positions all over the field so he was nicknamed Hoàng "cow” by his teammates and son won a spot in the national team, for whom he has 69 caps and 12 goals.

Midfielder Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng seen in the jersey of national team. — Photo bongda24h.vn

At the AFF Cup in 2018, Hoàng started in six out of seven matches. Although selected as a right wing-back which wasn’t his forte, he played impressively.

Hoàng has played for the national team for many different coaches and in many positions. His versatility and adaptability to each position and different tactics is also a strong point that coach Park Hang-seo and his colleagues appreciate about Hoàng.

The midfielder is still trusted by the South Korean coach Park as he has been selected for the national team to train this month to prepare for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

"Hoàng has good health and skills. His position requires a lot of strength to take both tasks of defending and supporting the attack. He is the type of player that many coaches choose,” said Nguyễn Đức Thắng, former coach of SLNA. — VNS