Amid numerous challenges, Thanh Hóa still stands shoulder to shoulder with the V-League champions

Facing a manpower shortage and a FIFA-imposed transfer embargo, Thanh Hóa still managed to secure 12 points after 13 rounds, equal to the reigning champions Nam Định in the 2025/2026 V-League.

After 13 rounds of the 2025/2026 V-League, the standings reveal a notable detail: Thanh Hóa Club has 12 points, the same as defending champions Nam Định. On one side is a team struggling with personnel and financial crises, on the other a squad valued at hundreds of billions of dong aiming to defend their title.

Thanh Hóa entered the season under a FIFA transfer ban due to unsettled payments from the previous season. This ban prevented the team from registering new players and forced them to release key members to balance finances. At one point, coach Mai Xuân Hợp had only 17 registered players, including some still recovering from injuries.

Even in the match against Hanoi Police on the evening of February 24, Thanh Hóa registered only 16 players, including 2 goalkeepers and 3 substitutes. Lục Xuân Hưng and Doãn Ngọc Tân were unfit to play, while goalkeeper Y Êli Niê had to enter at the 90th minute playing as a forward. This scene partly reflects the “make do” situation of the Thanh Hóa team.

Nonetheless, Thanh Hóa did not give up. Despite a thin squad, they secured a win and a draw against Nam Định and Ho Chi Minh City Police. Their courageous spirit, tactical discipline, and internal cohesion helped them maintain their chase in the rankings.

Conversely, Nam Định began the season ambitiously by signing numerous “blockbuster” players at Thiên Trường Stadium, raising the squad’s value to about 13 million Euros according to Transfermarkt. However, after a streak of 10 matches without a win (6 draws, 4 losses), the squad’s value dropped to around 10.23 million Euros, accompanied by a significant dip in performance.

The contrast between the two teams thus becomes even more pronounced. Thanh Hóa struggles with only 16–17 players but persistently accumulates points; Nam Định boasts a “million-Euro” squad yet loses its advantage. After 13 rounds, both have 12 points—showing that in football, spirit and resilience can be as crucial as financial strength.