"The man without lungs" Doan Ngoc Tan: A difficult childhood and an online love story
Báo Dân trí•05/01/2025
(Dan Tri) - Ngoc Tan and his wife's love blossomed after they met by chance through social media. Until their marriage, the football player had never once made a romantic confession or proposal.
After the first leg of the final match between Vietnam and Thailand on the evening of January 2, Le Ngoc Thuy Anh - wife of player Doan Ngoc Tan - held her child and stood waiting for her husband at the entrance below the stands of Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho). 20 minutes later, her husband appeared. With a bright smile of happiness, Ngoc Tan only had time to ask his wife a few brief questions and then handed her the suitcase for her to take back to the hotel. After that, he hurried back to the locker room with his teammates to rest and prepare for the flight to Bangkok (Thailand) for the second leg match. Player Doan Ngoc Tan has a simple and frugal lifestyle (Photo: Character provided). Looking at Ngoc Tan's radiant face after the match, Thuy Anh could not hide her joy. She was happy to see her husband having the opportunity to show himself in the Vietnamese national team's jersey - something he had longed for for many years.
Doan Ngoc Tan - "Late Blooming Flower"
Ngoc Tan, born in 1994, in Son Tay, Hanoi. He is considered by many to be a "late blooming flower". At the age of 30, many other players have been called up to the national team many times. However, for the midfielder of Thanh Hoa Club, this year's ASEAN Cup is the first time he has been named in the official list of the Vietnamese team. After each match, Ngoc Tan impressed with his good technique and physical strength, being likened to a "lungless man". In addition to his determination on the field, the image of him shaking hands with the referee with a serious expression after the first leg of the final, or the question "huh" when he did not understand the reporter's words clearly in a recent interview immediately caused a stir on social networks. After that, he had the nickname Tan "huh". "The image of Mr. Tan being loved by netizens makes me surprised. On the field, he is enthusiastic and dedicated, but in real life he is quiet, gentle and very honest", Thuy Anh shared. Wearing the national football team jersey is the strong desire of the young man born in 1994. Understanding her husband's dream, Thuy Anh rarely mentioned it, afraid of stirring up sadness. She only silently encouraged her husband, worked hard to practice, and nurtured the hope that one day that dream would come true. Opportunities passed one by one, and the dream of joining the national team seemed to have ended when this midfielder turned 30. Right before finalizing the official list of the Vietnamese team participating in this year's ASEAN Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik unexpectedly included Ngoc Tan's name. After the first match in the Vietnamese team jersey, Ngoc Tan sent his wife a message: "You did it", Thuy Anh replied with congratulations and encouragement for her husband. She understood better than anyone that he cherished every moment on the field, because Ngoc Tan had waited for that moment for more than 10 years. As the wife of a professional player, she told herself to get used to Ngoc Tan being fouled by the opponent. However, every time she saw her husband in pain on the field, the young wife's heart felt "suffocated". "In the first leg of the final against Thailand, from the stands, I saw my husband holding his leg in pain, feeling extremely worried. Every time I look back at that image, my heart aches. Luckily, everything is fine now, he can still play in the second leg," Thuy Anh confided.
Difficult family circumstances
Not having many favorable conditions like other players, Ngoc Tan rose from difficulties with his own determination and perseverance. The midfielder of the Vietnam national team was born into a poor family with two brothers. His mother was constantly sick, and his father drove a truck carrying construction materials - the main laborer in the family. Since he was a child, Ngoc Tan was passionate about the king of sports . He showed his enthusiasm in football matches with his friends of the same age in his hometown. Thanks to his early talent, Ngoc Tan was able to participate in youth and children's tournaments in Son Tay, scoring many goals. Doan Ngoc Tan and his wife and children at home in Hai Phong (Photo: Provided by the character). One time, when the teachers at The Cong training center went to recruit soldiers, Ngoc Tan was lucky to catch the eye of the young man. That was the turning point, opening up an opportunity for the young man to start his professional football career. "He once said that his family was so poor that even eating rice with fish sauce was delicious. When he left Son Tay to practice youth football, other players had specialized shoes, but Tan still wore bata canvas shoes. Because of his family's circumstances, it was rare for my husband to receive milk from his father to nourish him," Thuy Anh emotionally said. In Thuy Anh's eyes, her husband is a person who makes constant efforts. He may not have an ideal height or a "full" body, but Ngoc Tan's dedication and agility on the field make many people admire him. "My husband's body is smaller than other players, but his will helps make up for it," Ngoc Tan's wife confided. Thuy Anh further revealed that when he was in middle school, her husband was persistent, going to school in the morning, then taking the bus to the training center to practice. It was not until he was in 9th grade that he ate and lived with other friends. Ngoc Tan's career path also went through many ups and downs. After The Cong club was no longer there, the young generation including Ngoc Tan was transferred to Hanoi ACB club. Then, when there were disturbances in this team, he joined Viettel club, at that time playing in the second division. In 2015, he transferred to Hai Phong club and then had a time playing in Ho Chi Minh City. In 2021, Ngoc Tan transferred to Thanh Hoa club and has been there until now. After going through difficult times, Ngoc Tan has been able to support his parents. His family's life is better, but he still maintains a frugal lifestyle and a simple style. "He was born into difficult circumstances and had to overcome many hardships, so he developed a thrifty personality and saved every penny he earned. I love my husband for his honesty, simplicity, and lack of frills," Thuy Anh confided.
Love through social networks
Ngoc Tan and Thuy Anh's love came by chance, the two met through social networks. In early 2017, after going to Lach Tray Stadium to cheer for Hai Phong Club, Thuy Anh posted a post with a photo on social networks. Ngoc Tan accidentally read the status and liked it. Recognizing the familiar player on the field, Thuy Anh boldly sent a message to ask after him. Unexpectedly, Ngoc Tan enthusiastically replied, the two strangers became friends. "I sent the message by chance, not thinking he would reply. Later, my husband said, at that time there was no one to talk to so he wanted to talk to relieve his sadness. After 2 months of texting, Tan and I made an appointment to meet," Thuy Anh shared. Doan Ngoc Tan and his wife met through social networks (Photo: Provided by the character). The girl born in 1997 was impressed by the polite and sincere appearance of the young midfielder. The conversation in the first meeting was interrupted many times because Ngoc Tan was quite reserved, Thuy Anh had to take the initiative to make the two sides more open. After 3 months of getting to know each other, the couple officially fell in love. Her parents loved and admired the will of their future son-in-law, fully supporting their love story. In 2018, the couple officially became a family. Currently, Thuy Anh and Ngoc Tan have two cute boys. "We fell in love and got married without a romantic confession or proposal like other couples, because my husband lives simply and doesn't like to be flashy. In return, he lives responsibly with his family, loves his wife and children with all his heart, maybe that's enough," Thuy Anh confided. Currently, his wife and children live in Hai Phong, while Ngoc Tan plays in Thanh Hoa. Depending on the match schedule, on average, the midfielder of the Vietnamese national team can arrange to visit his wife and children once every month. The reunion of Ngoc Tan and his wife happened quickly within a few days, then he hurriedly got on the car to return to Thanh Hoa. Her husband has been playing in Thanh Hoa for more than 4 years, the number of times Thuy Anh and her children visited their father can be counted on the fingers of one hand because the children are still young. The days when Ngoc Tan returns to reunite are the most precious moments, the whole family is filled with laughter. In Thuy Anh's eyes, her husband is a man who loves his children very much. After the match, he always arranges time to call and talk to his children, asking about life at home. "After the ASEAN Cup, Mr. Tan will return to Thanh Hoa, so he won't have much time at home. Tet is the time when everyone can reunite together. I completely understand and sympathize with my husband, hoping that he will pursue his passion for football to the fullest," Thuy Anh said. Although she cannot go to Thailand to cheer for her husband and teammates, Thuy Anh said she will watch the match on the small screen. She believes the players will play well to bring home the championship that millions of fans are waiting for.
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