Cong Phuong - the youngest player from Hai Duong in the V-League

Happy "June boy"

Cong Phuong was born on June 3, 2006 in Du Tai village, Tien Tien commune (Hai Duong city). He was discovered and sent to train at Hai Duong Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center while he was still an elementary school student.

During this time, despite having a good training attitude, evenly developed physique and physical strength, Cong Phuong was not recruited by the coaches and was often on the reserve list.

After playing for U13 HADUWACO Hai Duong, Cong Phuong and many other teammates in Hai Duong joined The Cong Viettel. Here, in the professional and strict environment of the army, Cong Phuong tried hard to practice to prove himself. In one of the largest football centers in Vietnam, this is the only way for a player to survive and develop. "Cong Phuong is very obedient, practices hard, and follows the training plan well", coach Nguyen Minh Dung of U13, U15 The Cong Viettel once told Hai Duong Newspaper reporter about this player.

While playing for the Viettel The Cong youth team, Cong Phuong caught the attention of coaches and became the captain of the national U16 and U17 teams. He participated in the 2023 AFC U17 finals held in Thailand. Cong Phuong won the 2023 national U17 championship, winning the title of best player and top scorer of the tournament.

This young player also played for the Vietnam U19 team and the Vietnam U23 reserve team. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan rated Cong Phuong as one of the “special futures” of Vietnamese football.

At the launch ceremony of the 2023-2024 V-League season, The Cong Viettel Club announced 3 names in the U21 group to join the first team, and Cong Phuong is one of them.

Not only did Cong Phuong "beat the drum to make his name", he also appeared from the bench twice and left his mark. In particular, he was highly appreciated by coach Nguyen Duc Thang. Up to now, Cong Phuong is the youngest player from Hai Duong to appear at the highest football playground in Vietnam.

Cong Phuong's special mark

It can be said that Cong Phuong is currently the most outstanding Hai Duong player who can follow in the footsteps of the famous senior players from Hai Duong. Some sports journalists even say that Cong Phuong is the hope of Vietnamese football.

According to the clubs' statistics on players from Hai Duong, Cong Phuong was the youngest player to play in the V-League at the age of 17 years and 351 days. The famous senior players from Hai Duong who played in an official V-League match were all over 18 years old.

Specifically, Van Toan (Nam Dinh Green Steel) and Van Thanh (Hanoi Police) were promoted to the first team of Hoang Anh Gia Lai and then played when they were 19 years old. Cong Phuong's compatriot and teammate at The Cong Viettel, Hoang Duc, played in 2019 when he was 21 years old. Duc Huy (Nam Dinh Green Steel) also played when he was 21 years old. Duc Chien (The Cong Viettel) played when he was 18 years old; Trong Dai played in the V-League at the age of 21; Trieu Viet Hung (Hai Phong) played when he was 19 years old; Truong Tien Anh (The Cong Viettel) played when he was 20 years old; Nguyen Xuan Nam (PVF - People's Police), Tran Van Hoa (Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc) also played professionally when they were 19 and 20 years old...

This season, Cong Phuong wears the number 6 jersey. In round 21 of the V-League, in the match against Hanoi Police on May 26, Cong Phuong was sent onto the field by coach Duc Thang in the 68th minute to replace his senior Hoang Duc. When the home team was leading the opponent with a score of 2-1, Cong Phuong had the opportunity to increase the score to 3-1 when facing goalkeeper Filip Nguyen at the end of the match but was unsuccessful.

However, after the match, he received many compliments from the coach. "Cong Phuong is a potential young player. Today, he played well even though he played in a different role than his forte. This is a step forward for a young player when he replaces a senior. He has a big change in thinking, which is very good for a young player. Cong Phuong is not lucky because he has not been able to score in the last 2 matches, but the goals will come because of his efforts," said coach Duc Thang.

In the first match, when he entered the field in the 65th minute when his team faced Nam Dinh Blue Steel, Cong Phuong also left an unforgettable impression.

He joined The Cong Viettel at the age of 12 and his contract will end at the age of 21. Currently, Cong Phuong plays as an attacking midfielder. Not only does he have an impressive physique, Cong Phuong also possesses a good technical foundation, is an all-round player who can shoot with both feet and has a highly rated free kick ability.