Coach Park wants Viettel star to play abroad

Việt Nam national team manager Park Hang-seo (right) believes that Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (left) has the potential to play in Korea or Japan. Photo sport5.vn

HÀ NỘI — The future is promising for Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, who won his first Vietnamese Golden Ball at the age of 23 and was a key part of both of Việt Nam’s successful SEA Games campaigns in 2019 and 2022. 

And for Park Hang–seo, who has been watching the 24-year–old midfielder since the days of his career, Đức’s talent can transcend borders.

“Hoàng Đức can follow in Quang Hải’s footsteps and go and play abroad,” coach Park said to President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Saturday.

“We see a lot of clubs from different countries interested in Vietnamese players. Beside Quang Hải, Đức is also on the shortlist of many Japanese and South Korean clubs.

“However, he still has a three-year contract with Viettel. If we wait for the contract to end, the golden time will pass for Đức.

“I hope that the Viettel will let Hoàng go to Korea or Japan on a one-year loan to play and train in the region’s advanced football system.

Speaking with the President, Park insisted that this move, if possible, will be of great help to the national team.

“If Hoàng Đức can play abroad, it will be a huge advantage for the national team,” said the 64-year-old manager.

“This is not only a matter of Viettel but also of the player, the capacity of the team, and the whole country.

“I hope that the President will encourage Viettel, on behalf of the nation, to support Đức.

“For Korean and Japanese clubs, this July is the time for them to sign new players, so the remaining time is very short.”

Since joining Viettel FC in 2017, Đức has become an indispensable pillar in the midfield of the military team. In the National First Division Tournament in 2018, he played in 17 matches, scoring nine goals and providing three assists, helping Viettel secure promotion to play in the national premier league in 2019. For his performance, Đức won the tournament’s best player award.

In 2020, the Hải Dương Province-native helped his team win the V.League 1, and finish second in the National Cup.

Đức also shone at the U20 World Cup in 2017, and has participated in all the successes of Vietnamese football in recent years, such as SEA Games 30, SEA Games 31 and the World Cup 2022 qualifiers.

The Viettel midfielder is the only Vietnamese player on the list of 11 excellent players at the 2020 AFF Cup, selected by ESPN. VNS