U23 Vietnam defender makes a strong impression, bringing good news to coach Kim Sang Sik

Center-back Nguyễn Hiểu Minh is demonstrating remarkable performance, making him a likely new key player in Vietnam’s defensive squad.

Recently, Nguyễn Hiểu Minh has emerged as one of the most consistent and impressive players for PVF-CAND in the 2025/26 V-League season. The 2004-born player’s excellent form not only helps his club maintain a solid defense but also brings great news to both the U23 Vietnam team and the senior national team.

According to PVF-CAND statistics, Hiểu Minh is the only player who has started all 8 matches from the beginning of the season and played the full 720 minutes. This highlights the young player’s endurance and strong physical foundation. At 22 years old, this U23 Vietnam center-back is entering his peak performance phase, with increasingly refined situational awareness and defensive leadership skills.

Not only excelling for his club, Hiểu Minh has also made a strong impact on both the U23 Vietnam team and the senior national team recently. At the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, he played a crucial role in helping U23 Vietnam clinch the title. He scored a brace in the opening match against U23 Laos and received the highest rating for that game.

Recently, Hiểu Minh was among eight young players called up by coach Kim Sang Sik to the Vietnam senior national team for two matches against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. In the second leg, Hiểu Minh was in the starting lineup and made a key header that forced an own goal from the opposing team, securing the only goal for Vietnam. Overall, the PVF-CAND player had an exceptionally impressive debut.

With veteran defenders of the Vietnam national team currently injured and not at their best form, Nguyễn Hiểu Minh’s rapid development is a positive sign for coach Kim Sang Sik, especially as the team is undergoing a generational transition.

If he continues to perform well, Hiểu Minh could become a top defensive choice for the Vietnam national team, starting with the upcoming match against Laos on November 18.