Gen Z Vietnamese football players born in the Year of the Horse

Vietnamese football also has many talented players born in 2002, the Year of the Horse, with great potential for growth.

The year 2026 is considered a significant milestone for the cohort of players born in the Year of the Horse, especially those born in 2002 who are gradually establishing their place in the V.League. They are not only becoming key players at their clubs but also represent promising future assets for the Vietnamese national team.

In the goalkeeper position, Văn Việt stands out. Developed at SLNA academy, he captained the Nghệ An team at just 21 years old. Văn Việt has won the U15 and U23 Southeast Asian Championships and has been called up to the national team since 2023. Before the 2025/26 season, he was loaned to Thể Công - Viettel, where he quickly secured the starting spot with numerous clean sheets, demonstrating remarkable progress.

In defense, Vũ Tiến Long and Giáp Tuấn Dương have shown notable improvement. Tiến Long won gold at SEA Games 31, the 2022 U23 Southeast Asian Championship, and performed impressively at the U23 Asian Cup. After a long recovery from a ligament injury in 2025, he made a strong comeback with Hà Nội FC. Meanwhile, Tuấn Dương, a product of CAHN's academy, impresses with his versatility, able to play both left-back and center-back, helping his team gain promotion to the V.League.

In midfield, Vĩnh Nguyên is highly regarded for his technique and game organization. Having trained in Spain and represented Vietnam U23 at the Doha Cup, he is becoming an important player for HAGL starting from the 2025 season.

Up front, Nguyên Hoàng and Đình Duy bring youth and dynamism. Nguyên Hoàng, developed at PVF, won the 2022 U23 Southeast Asian Championship and is seeking to break through at SHB Đà Nẵng. Đình Duy, a speedy winger, has been called up to the national team and continues to play a key role in his club’s tactics. The 2002 Year of the Horse generation thus promises to achieve even greater success in the coming years.

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