The place that "created" Xuan Son today
Last year marked a strong step forward in Xuan Son’s career for both the club and the national team. As the main striker, he scored many important goals, helping Nam Dinh FC win the V-League.
Xuan Son's cozy family celebrates Tet in traditional Vietnamese ao dai
Couple celebrate Tet in Nam Dinh
Xuan Son's prominence comes not only from his professional skills, but also from his passion for competition and leadership ability. He has become the main factor helping Nam Dinh Club have the most successful season in recent years. He is also the "Top scorer" of V-League for 2 consecutive seasons. Notably, in the 2023-2024 season, the player born in 1997 won the title of V-League's Best Player, won the "Best Goal of the Tournament" award and achieved the title of "Top scorer" with 31 goals. This is a historic number, breaking the record of 25 goals of former striker Le Huynh Duc.
Xuan Son is excellent in Nam Dinh Club shirt
According to statistics from the football transfer website Transfermarkt , Xuan Son has played a total of 100 matches in the V-League, scoring 71 goals and contributing 14 assists for the clubs Nam Dinh, Da Nang, and Binh Dinh. He is also the striker with the best performance in the V-League in recent years.
Nam Dinh is the first club that Xuan Son joined when he came to Vietnam in 2020 and after two transitional periods in Da Nang and Binh Dinh, he returned to his first home in 2023 and has been there until now. Xuan Son's love for Thanh Nam land was confirmed when he shared that this year's Tet is a happy Tet when he gets to celebrate the New Year in the land that "created" Xuan Son today.
The big turning point: Vietnamese citizenship
After a period of waiting for approval, Xuan Son officially received Vietnamese citizenship in October 2024, and was then named by coach Kim Sang-sik in the list for the 2024 AFF Cup. However, due to FIFA regulations, he had to wait until after the first 3 matches to be able to debut for the national team, and he did not disappoint fans.
At the AFF Cup 2024, Nguyen Xuan Son made an unforgettable mark in the history of Southeast Asian football. Although he only played 5 matches, he scored 7 goals and won both the "Best Player of the Tournament" and "Top Scorer" titles. This achievement not only demonstrates his outstanding talent but also shows his quick integration and dedication to the Vietnamese team.
Nguyen Xuan Son always shows his burning desire when wearing the Vietnamese national team shirt in every match.
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
In the past, Vietnamese football has witnessed the presence of a number of naturalized players such as Fabio dos Santos (Phan Van Santos), Kesley Alves (Huynh Kesley), Samson Kayode (Hoang Vu Samson, playing for Buriram United in 2018), Gaston Melo (Do Merlo),... However, they have never had the opportunity to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey to compete in official international tournaments. Currently, only Nguyen Xuan Son has overcome all barriers to become a key factor in the attack, making an important contribution to helping the Vietnamese team conquer the regional peak.
His presence and success have broken the long-standing prejudices about foreign-born players, opening a new chapter for the use of this resource in the future. Xuan Son not only brings high professional quality but also shows his deep love for Vietnam, demonstrated through simple actions such as participating in daily activities with his family, being passionate about Vietnamese food and being proud when singing the National Anthem.
Playing only 5 matches, Xuan Son scored 7 goals at AFF Cup 2024
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
Xuan Son's success has motivated the Vietnamese team to consider and accept other naturalized players such as Jason Quang Vinh, Hendrio Araujo,...
After glory comes the biggest challenge of career
The victory of the Vietnamese team that day should have been full of joy, but Xuan Son's serious injury left a haunting note in the hearts of fans. When he collapsed on the field, the entire stadium fell silent, millions of hearts tightened, and anxiety rose. It was not only Xuan Son's physical pain, but also the pain of football lovers in the country, when witnessing a pillar of the team facing the biggest challenge of his career.
The moment Xuan Son fell to the ground, holding his face in pain, was also the moment fans' hearts ached.
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
The initial diagnosis of Son's injury was a simple fracture, but after a detailed examination, doctors discovered a much more complicated situation: a fracture of the tibia shaft with a large wedge-shaped fragment 7 cm long in the posterior wall, with the risk of additional fragments if not handled properly. This is not only a technical problem but also a measure of the skill and experience of the surgical team, when it is necessary to ensure that the bone is firmly fixed, while avoiding further damage to the healthy structures and slowing down the physiological recovery process.
Intramedullary nailing surgery in this case is highly challenging. The choice of opening the fracture to reduce the fragment or placing a closed intramedullary nail requires careful consideration, as each option has its own risks. In addition, Xuan Son's large body size and physical condition require every operation to be precise to every detail. Each step in the surgery is carefully calculated and simulated through modern software, to ensure the stability and best recovery for the player.
After surgery, Xuan Son's recovery journey will last at least 6 months, divided into four stages with specific goals: pain control, basic rehabilitation, improving strength and range of motion, and finally preparing for a high level of fitness. Although surgery is only 10% of the recovery process, the remaining 90% is Son's determination, combined with the rehabilitation team and coaching staff. It can take an average of 9 months for a professional player to return to the field, and this also depends a lot on how the body responds to the recovery stages.
From a player who always shined on the field, Xuan Son now has to enter a completely different battle, where there is no more enthusiastic cheering, only resilience and effort to overcome adversity. This challenge will not be easy, but with the spirit of never giving up, fans believe that he will return, stronger, to continue conquering new heights with the Vietnamese team.
He received maximum support from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Nam Dinh Club, his family, fans, businesses, sponsors and Vinmec General Hospital - where he is being treated. The certificates and valuable rewards, both material and spiritual, will also be a great motivation for him and his family to have confidence in the recovery journey ahead.
This year's Tet is very special.
After 3 weeks of treatment at Vinmec Hospital (Hanoi), Xuan Son returned home to reunite with his family. He received a warm welcome from Nam Dinh fans.
"Nam Dinh has always been a place I love very much. After 3 years of living here, I clearly feel the special affection that Nam Dinh people have for me. Therefore, celebrating Tet in Nam Dinh is an unforgettable experience. I love everything about this place," Xuan Son shared with Thanh Nien Newspaper on the afternoon of January 25, while preparing to welcome the New Year with his family at his home in Thanh Nam.
Xuan Son received Chung cake from Nam Dinh fans
PHOTO: DINH HUY
Xuan Son and his wife and children celebrate Tet in Nam Dinh this year.
PHOTO: DINH HUY
"This year is my fifth Tet in Vietnam, but it is even more special because this is the first Tet I celebrate as a true Vietnamese citizen. This has great meaning to me and my family," Xuan Son added emotionally.
This spring, as a Vietnamese citizen, Xuan Son is enjoying meaningful moments with his family and loved ones in Nam Dinh - the place that has become his second home.
Injury has interrupted Xuan Son’s brilliant journey at the AFF Cup, but it cannot extinguish the fire of determination in him. The AFF Cup championship may be less complete when he cannot be present on the field to celebrate with the team, but he knows that it is just the beginning of another journey worth looking forward to.
Thanhnien,vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nam-moi-cua-xuan-son-185250128164623787.htm
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