Dinh Trieu received the title of "Best Goalkeeper of the tournament" - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH
“10 years ago, I decided to quit football to find a better job. I didn’t think that 10 years later, I would be here and contribute my small part to the championship of the Vietnamese team,” Nguyen Dinh Trieu – the best goalkeeper of the ASEAN Cup 2024 – shared.
Goalkeeper overshadows Nguyen Filip
Before the ASEAN Cup 2024, no one thought Dinh Trieu would be the number 1 goalkeeper of the Vietnamese team. Because with European class and a height of 1m91 (11cm taller than Dinh Trieu), Nguyen Filip is the brightest candidate.
But then Dinh Trieu overshadowed Nguyen Filip. After a shaky start in the opening match, winning 4-1 against Laos and having to sit out two consecutive matches, Dinh Trieu started the remaining 5 matches of the Vietnamese team.
Dinh Trieu's excellent performance in the second leg of the semi-final against Singapore and the first leg of the final against Thailand helped the 33-year-old goalkeeper play in the decisive match for the Vietnamese team's championship in Thailand on January 5.
Facing the formidable pressure of Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium, Dinh Trieu and the Vietnamese team still stood firm and won 3-2, thereby being crowned the champion in a worthy manner with a final victory of 5-3 after two matches. Dinh Trieu himself also received the title of "Best Goalkeeper of the tournament".
Dinh Trieu in the final match at Rajamangala Stadium – Photo: NK
The road to professional football is full of bumps.
Dinh Trieu is considered a late bloomer of Vietnamese football. At the age of 33, Dinh Trieu unexpectedly became the number 1 goalkeeper of the Vietnamese national team when goalkeeper coach Lee Won Jae appeared from a training trip to Korea.
Before that, Dang Van Lam and Nguyen Filip were the two goalkeepers who took turns playing for the Vietnamese team under coach Philippe Troussier and then Kim Sang Sik.
“Nguyen Filip is very good, but in this tournament we consider the advantage of communicating in Vietnamese. Dinh Trieu communicates better. I have discussed with goalkeeper coach Lee Won Jae which goalkeeper to use,” Mr. Kim explained why he chose Dinh Trieu as the main goalkeeper at the ASEAN Cup 2024.
But to achieve the success he has today, Dinh Trieu's football career was not smooth. At the age of 17, Dinh Trieu left his hometown Thai Binh to audition for the youth team of Hanoi T&T Club (the predecessor of Hanoi Club).
Just 2 years later, Dinh Trieu was called up to the Vietnam U19 team to prepare for the 2010 U19 Asian Finals alongside prominent names at that time such as Van Quyet, Hai Huy, Hoang Thinh...
But 4 years later, Dinh Trieu decided to stop. Because he could not find an opportunity to play professional football, and his family's circumstances were difficult. He returned to Vung Tau to work as a security guard at an oil and gas company, but still had a lingering dream of unfinished football.
Working in Vung Tau helped Dinh Trieu have a better life. He could help his family and complete his unfinished high school studies. In 2017, Dinh Trieu was admitted to Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport.
Missing football, Dinh Trieu again participated in grassroots football tournaments. Fate brought him to meet former player Nguyen Minh Phuong, who was then the coach of Binh Phuoc Club, and he joined this first division team in 2020.
Dinh Trieu contributed greatly to the ASEAN Cup championship of the Vietnamese team - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH
Role model for young players
At the age of 29, Dinh Trieu had his first professional match in the Binh Phuoc club shirt. But he did not have to wait long. Because two years later, Dinh Trieu was promoted - joining Hai Phong club to compete in V-League 2022.
At 31 years old, Dinh Trieu played brilliantly in his first breath of V-League air. He was then called up to the Vietnam national team by coach Philippe Troussier and made his debut as a starting goalkeeper in a friendly match against Palestine in September 2023.
But even so, Dinh Trieu never thought that one day he would become the number 1 goalkeeper of the national team in an official tournament. Even crowned and won the title of "Best Goalkeeper of the Tournament" like in the ASEAN Cup 2024.
“Here, I also want to tell the young players of Vietnamese football, other goalkeepers, I hope you will try to persevere with your passion so that one day you can have the success I have strived for,” Dinh Trieu said.
Tuoitre.vn
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thu-mon-dinh-trieu-tu-anh-bao-ve-den-nha-vo-dich-asean-cup-20250106090827032.htm
Comment (0)