Coach Troussier calls overseas Vietnamese talent to join U23 Vietnam

18-year-old midfielder Nguyen An Khanh, currently playing for Czech club Sigma Olomouc, is on the list of 25 players called up by coach Philippe Troussier to join the Vietnam U23 team.

Nguyen An Khanh (middle) in the shirt of Sigma Olomouc Club of the Czech Republic. — An Khanh (middle) in the shirt of Sigma Olomouc Club of the Czech Republic.

An Khanh was born in 2005 in the Czech Republic, his father is from Nghe An, his mother is from Hanoi. He started playing football at the age of 5 and joined the Trinec youth team two years later. At the age of 15, An Khanh caught the eye of Sigma Olomouc - a team playing in the highest league of the Czech Republic. After a deal worth about one billion VND, he was brought to Sigma Olomouc's youth training center, about 150 km from home.

An Khanh is a central midfielder, but can also play as a striker or left winger. He is a regular starter for Sigma Olomouc U19 and has featured several times for the club's B team in the Czech First Division. In the 2022-2023 season, An Khanh scored seven goals and assisted 20 others. He is also a member of the Czech Republic U18 team.

After being introduced, Coach Troussier watched An Khanh play and decided to call him up to the Vietnam U23 team for the June meeting. The team list was announced by the French coach on the afternoon of June 2, including 25 players.

According to the original plan, U23 Vietnam will participate in the Panda Cup 2023 international friendly tournament in Chengdu, China. However, the Organizing Committee later announced the postponement of the tournament due to stadium maintenance schedules. However, Coach Troussier maintained the plan to concentrate and train the team in parallel with the national team.

U23 Vietnam has many familiar faces such as goalkeeper Cao Van Binh, defender Vu Tien Long, Phan Tuan Tai, striker Nguyen Van Tung, Nguyen Quoc Viet. Le Van Do and Nguyen Thanh Nhan are absent due to injury. Coach Troussier also called up some new faces for testing, such as goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet (SLNA), Nguyen Duc Anh (Hanoi)...

U23 Vietnam will gather on June 5 and train in Hanoi. The team will play two friendly matches, against Hanoi Police Club on June 14 at PVF Center and against Hai Phong Club on June 17 at Lach Tray Stadium.

List of 25 U23 Vietnam players to gather in June 2023

- Goalkeepers: Nguyen Van Viet (SLNA), Cao Van Binh (SLNA)

- Defenders: Tran Quang Thinh (CAHN), Ha Van Phuong (CAHN), Vu Tien Long (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Duc Anh (Hanoi FC), Phan Tuan Tai (Viettel), Nguyen Hong Phuc (Hoa Binh), Luong Duy Cuong (Da Nang), Nguyen Ngoc Thang (Ha Tinh), Vo Minh Trong (Dong Thap), Ho Van Cuong (SLNA)

- Midfielders: Huynh Cong Den (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Duc Phu (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Huu Nam (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Thai Son (Thanh Hoa), Khuat Van Khang (Viettel), Hoang Van Toan (CAHN), Le Quoc Nhat Nam (Hue), Nguyen An Khanh (Sigma Olomouc)

- Forwards: Nguyen Van Truong (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Van Tung (Hanoi FC), Bui Vi Hao (Binh Duong), Nguyen Quoc Viet (HAGL), Vo Nguyen Hoang (PVF-CAND).

Lam Thoa

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