Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng

Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng
Personal information
Birth name Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng
Date of birth (2002-08-02) 2 August 2002 (age 22)
Place of birth Kỳ Anh, Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Centre back
Youth career
2013–2020 Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020–2024 Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh 24 (0)
2022Long An (loan) 16 (0)
International career
2022–2024 Vietnam U23 17 (1)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Vietnam
AFF U-23 Championship
Winner Cambodia 2022 Team
Winner Thailand 2023
SEA Games
Bronze medal – third place Phnom Penh 2023 Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 April 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 May 2023

Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng (born 2 August 2002) is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a centre back.[1]

Club career

[edit]

Born in Hà Tĩnh, Ngọc Thắng was admitted to the youth team of Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in 2013 after his performances during a local tournament. He was promoted to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh's first team for the 2020 V.League 1 season but didn't make any appearances.[2]

In 2021, Ngọc Thắng was loaned to Nutifood-JMG [vi] and won the 2021 Vietnamese National U-21 Championship as his team's main centre back.[2]

On 13 February 2023, Ngọc Thắng made his professional debut, starting in Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh's 2–3 V.League 1 defeat against defending champions Hà Nội.[3][4]

International career

[edit]

Ngọc Thắng was named to the Vietnam national under-23 team squad for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship. He played in the opening game against Singapore before getting replaced in the squad for being tested positive for Covid-19.[5] His teammates later secured the title after the 1–0 against Thailand in the final.[6]

In April 2022, Ngọc Thắng was selected by coach Philippe Troussier to participate in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games with Vietnam under-22.[7]

In April 2024, Ngọc Thắng was named in Vietnam U23's squad for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024. He was sent-off in his first match against Kuwait and conceded his team a penalty.[8]

Personal life

[edit]

Ngọc Thắng idolizes Vietnam national team captain Quế Ngọc Hải.[9]

Arrest and sentence

[edit]

On 4 May 2024, Ngọc Thắng and four other teammates at Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh were arrested at a hotel in Hà Tĩnh on drug-related charges. The Vietnam Football Federation immediately suspended these players from all football activities and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh also removed them from the squad.[10][11] In the trial held on 27 August 2024, the People's Court of Hà Tĩnh sentenced Ngọc Thắng to 4 years in prison for the illegal use of drugs.[12]

Honours

[edit]

Nutifood JMG Academy

  • Vietnamese National U-21 Football Championship: 2021

Vietnam U23[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng at Soccerway
  2. ^ a b "Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng: Từ "kép phụ" đội trẻ Hà Tĩnh đến cánh cửa U23 Việt Nam". Báo Hà Tĩnh. 4 January 2022.
  3. ^ "Trung vệ Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng và cơ hội tỏa sáng tại V.League 2023". Báo Hà Tĩnh. 23 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Hàng loạt tuyển thủ U22 Việt Nam được thi đấu khi V.League trở lại". Zing News. 11 April 2023.
  5. ^ "3 cầu thủ ghi bàn cho U23 Việt Nam bị thay thế do Covid-19". Sport 5. 22 February 2022.
  6. ^ "U23 Việt Nam vô địch U23 Đông Nam Á: Nghịch cảnh tạo anh hùng" (in Vietnamese). VOV. 27 February 2022.
  7. ^ "ĐT U22 Việt Nam chốt danh sách chính thức 20 cầu thủ dự SEA Games 32". Vietnamese Football Federation. 29 April 2023.
  8. ^ "HLV Hoàng Anh Tuấn công bố danh sách 23 cầu thủ tham dự VCK U23 châu Á 2024" (in Vietnamese). Vietnam Football Federation. 15 April 2024.
  9. ^ "Trung vệ U23 Việt Nam: "Tôi thần tượng đàn anh Quế Ngọc Hải"". Dân Việt. 13 March 2023.
  10. ^ "5 cầu thủ Hà Tĩnh bị điều tra liên quan ma túy" (in Vietnamese). VnExpress. 8 May 2024.
  11. ^ "VFF đình chỉ thi đấu vô thời hạn 5 cầu thủ Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh" (in Vietnamese). Tuổi Trẻ. 8 May 2024.
  12. ^ "Tuyên án 5 cựu cầu thủ Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh 'mở tiệc' ma túy trong khách sạn" (in Vietnamese). Tuổi Trẻ. 27 August 2024.