Durable 'sweeper' with Popov's style is on the Vietnamese team

Doan Ngoc Tan - the core of the midfield

In the 85th minute of the match between Thanh Hoa and Hai Phong in round 3 of the V-League, the away team Hai Phong launched a siege in the hope of finding an equalizer. The entire Thanh Hoa team, including Doan Ngoc Tan, were defending in the penalty area.

The ball was cleared by Thanh Long, then Lam Ti Phong of Thanh Hoa took the ball to organize a counterattack. In just 8 seconds, Ngoc Tan sprinted from his home field, covered a distance of approximately 70 meters to receive a pass from his teammate, and made a header that forced goalkeeper Dinh Trieu to fly as far as he could to save the goal.

It should be emphasized that it was the end of the match and Ngoc Tan only needed less than 10 seconds to run from his team's penalty area to the opponent's goal.

Doan Ngoc Tan (yellow shirt) in Thanh Hoa Club shirt

The 1994-born player's running style is everything coach Velizar Popov needs: energetic, passionate, determined and not afraid to "burn" every minute and second on the field.

In his third year coaching Thanh Hoa team, Coach Popov still surprises the audience. Coach Popov's students are still leading the V-League, having a 9-match unbeaten streak. That is the result of an effective physical training method that in the early days, there were players who were "dizzy" because they had to train too hard. However, Thanh Hoa Club still persevered. Coach Popov was successful because he had diligent subordinates like Doan Ngoc Tan.

Ngoc Tan struggled to find a place at Hai Phong FC, when it was not until the 2017 season, at the age of 24, that this midfielder had his first season playing more than 20 matches in the V-League. Ngoc Tan rose to the first team at Hai Phong FC during a period of instability and decline, when the Hai Phong team was just a "shadow" after the runner-up season (2016). In 2021, Ngoc Tan moved to Thanh Hoa FC, also during the period when the Thanh Hoa team was struggling in the middle of the table.

Although he immediately won a place at Thanh Hoa Club, Ngoc Tan has never reached the national team. In V-League, the 30-year-old midfielder is rarely listed among the best. Because he has nothing special, from long shots, short passes, long passes or controlling the match.

Only Ngoc Tan’s enthusiasm is unmistakable. It was only when coach Popov appeared that the 30-year-old player’s importance was confirmed. Having a midfielder who is ready to fight to the “last breath” is a prerequisite for building a disciplined and energetic team.

Midfielder Ngoc Tan (right) has impressive endurance.

Coach Popov understood that and trusted Ngoc Tan alongside Thai Son, creating a sweeping midfield duo with the highest fighting spirit in V-League.

Ngoc Tan has played 50 of Thanh Hoa's last 54 matches in the V-League. This season, he has played 7 matches (625 minutes in total). Note another detail: in the last 12 matches, Ngoc Tan has played 90 minutes in 11 of them. About to cross the other side of the slope, playing in a position that requires a lot of physical strength, competition and collision like a defensive midfielder, but Ngoc Tan is still one of the most "lead" players.

Vietnam team needs 'fire'

At 30, Ngoc Tan is not a solution for the future. However, coach Kim Sang-sik probably only needs to think about the present. Giving a chance to a player who has never been called up to the national team not only brings strength and muscle to the midfield, but also sends a clear message: opportunities will come to anyone who does not give up.

The Vietnamese team needs youth, experience and also faces who, although not well-known, but give their all when on the field, such as Ngoc Tan, Chau Ngoc Quang or Le Pham Thanh Long. The common point of all three is that they play in the midfield. This is also the position where coach Kim Sang-sik is having a headache looking for talent to release the inertia that has existed since the end of coach Park Hang-seo's time until now.

To compete on equal terms with teams with such strong internals as Thailand or Indonesia, Mr. Kim’s students need a new momentum. With new recruits rushing to the national team in the past 2 months, the momentum will likely come from the midfield, where fighting spirit will be the key to unlocking potential.

Facing the knot in his life, Doan Ngoc Tan needs to make a bold sprint like what he did in V-League to "go against the wind" to AFF Cup 2024.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doan-ngoc-tan-may-quet-ben-bi-mang-phong-cach-popov-len-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185241119101316514.htm