Ly Duc – a piece for the future
Center-back Pham Ly Duc is the newest and most surprising name in the collection of the Vietnamese team in March. Ly Duc has never worn U.22 Vietnam, has just played in the V-League for the first season. But, instead of going to the U.22 team, he was specially presented in the national team for fostering.
At the age of 22, Ly Duc is the future of the Vietnamese team. Even, he can become the present, if performing well and competing in the position.
Center -back Pham Ly Duc
Since leading the Vietnamese team in June 2024, coach Kim Sang-Sik has experienced two innovations. The first reform took place right in the debut (meeting the Philippines in the 2026 World Cup qualifier), when Mr. Kim used midfielder Nguyen Duc Chien as a central defender, the central stone in the three -person defense.
The goal of the Korean coach is to increase control in the defense, helping the Vietnamese team to deploy coherent balls from the lower route.
The intention was unsuccessful, when the Vietnamese team was not ready to control and rotate the ball from the bottom up. “The players are uncomfortable and somewhat shy with this way of playing,” a member of the coaching staff shared.
After that, coach Kim Sang -Sik used Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung and Pham Xuan Manh, all of the veterans who had rolled through many young tournaments and attached to the successful years (2018 – 2022) of Vietnamese football.
The Vietnamese team won the AFF Cup 2024 thanks to the guards who were molded by Park Hang-seo. However, when this group of players had or prepared to reach the 30th threshold, the need for additional center -back became more urgent.
Among the two central defenders at the ideal level, Bui Hoang Viet Anh still struggled with the aftermath after the injury, and Nguyen Thanh Binh seemed to be restricted, so he did not show much in the role of a left -back defender.
Can Ly Duc (left) be able to show himself?
Therefore, Ly Duc was summoned. Coach Kim Sang-Sik affirmed his form (at the time of summoning) was one of the criteria he gave a top priority to choose a person. Compared to the seniors, Ly Duc is like a blank paper. He was only 22 years old, which was only 16 V-League matches this season, and the U.21 country championship 2024 with U.21 HAGL.
But, coach Kim Sang-Sik only cares about 16 V-League matches. Ly Duc played 16 matches from the beginning of the tournament, without a minute break. It is a statistics that many seniors are also difficult to achieve. Why was Ly Duc completely kicked 16 matches? First, the 2003 center -back is very strong and durable, almost no sign of exhaustion despite having to play in the HAGL team placed heavy defense. At the same time, he is so important, so much that coach Le Quang Trai, if it comes out of the yard, is difficult to find.
It is not simple for the only 22-year-old center-back and the first V-League kicked it.
Compete
Ly Duc can be beautiful (1.82 m high), with good strength and body thickness to serve the dispute. He belongs to the player model, ready to “play” his hand with foreign soldiers, not afraid to collide. The aggression and energy helped Ly Duc become outstanding compared to the central defenders of the same age.
At the same time, with the two goals from the beginning of the tournament, the closest to the crib of the Thanh Hoa Club in the 16th round, the 23 -year -old center -back could become a defensive player “lucky”, as what Bui Hoang Viet Anh or Nguyen Thanh Chung once performed.
Ly Duc has 2 goals this season
Although there are many limitations, such as the ability to read situations and judgment when meeting more mischievous opponents, experience or “cold” are lacking, but these are the qualities that need time and experience to sharpen. Importantly, Ly Duc has aspirations and fighting.
Once kicked in the center of the center -back and the defensive midfielder, Mr. Kim loved the “warrior” player, not afraid to plunge into the game. Ly Duc is a rough gem, if it is honed properly, can completely progress and become a promising piece.
After Viet Anh center -back withdrew, the Vietnamese team was only Manh, Thanh Chung, Thanh Binh, Tien Dung and Ly Duc for the central defender position. Meeting two opponents under Cambodia (friendly, 19.3) and Laos (the Asian Cup qualifying round of 2027, 25.3), when the defense was not under much pressure, Ly Duc could be given the opportunity.
Thien Thoi, Loi Loi has come. And HAGL’s young body, young bodyguards are ready to conquer.
