Calling two 1.9m tall players, U23 Vietnam instantly makes history

U23 Vietnam has, for the first time in its history, included two players taller than 1.9 meters in the team.

Coach Kim Sang Sik summoned a total of 26 players to join U23 Vietnam for the CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025 international friendly tournament in November, as preparation for SEA Games 33. Compared to the October call-up, U23 Vietnam welcomed back many key players previously called up to the Vietnam national team, such as Khuất Văn Khang, Đình Bắc, Hiểu Minh, Xuân Bắc, Thanh Nhàn...

Notably, this training camp features two "towers" in the U23 Vietnam squad. Specifically, Coach Kim Sang Sik called up two remarkably tall players: goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên (1.91 m) and defender Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.95 m). This marks the first time in U23 Vietnam’s history that two players over 1.9 meters tall have been called up simultaneously. Both players are currently with HAGL club.

Trần Trung Kiên, who recently made his first start for the Vietnam national team, will return to U23 Vietnam and is expected to be the starting goalkeeper at SEA Games 33. Meanwhile, Đinh Quang Kiệt, known as the tallest defender in Vietnam's national team history, regularly plays in the V-League. However, at the youth national team level, he has yet to deliver a standout performance.

This time, the U23 Vietnam roster shows an interesting contrast. There are nine players taller than 1.80 meters, including goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên (1.91 m), Nguyễn Tân (1.8 m), Cao Văn Bình (1.83 m), defender Lê Văn Hà (1.84 m), Phạm Lý Đức (1.82 m), Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.96 m), Nguyễn Hiểu Minh (1.84 m), midfielder Nguyễn Văn Trường (1.82 m), and Viktor Lê (1.8 m).

However, in the attack and wing positions, U23 Vietnam includes several smaller but skillful players such as Khuất Văn Khang, Lê Văn Thuận, Công Phương, Xuân Bắc, Nguyễn Thái Quốc Cường...

According to the plan, the U23 Vietnam team will gather on November 9 under the leadership of acting head coach Đinh Hồng Vinh, then depart for China to participate in the CFA Team China Panda Cup 2025. This tournament will take place from November 12 to 18 in Chengdu (Sichuan Province, China), featuring four U23 teams: China, South Korea, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. The Vietnam Football Federation’s support for participation in this high-quality competition is expected to provide U23 Vietnam with essential preparation ahead of SEA Games 33.