OFFICIAL: Cong Phuong claims his first club-level title

The First Division championship for Dong Nai simultaneously gives Cong Phuong, Minh Vuong, and Xuan Truong their inaugural club-level honor.

A 3-0 victory over Long An in round 21 allowed Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to clinch the 2025/26 National First Division title one match early, while also securing promotion to the V.League for the upcoming season. Beyond the collective achievement of this Southeast regional team, this milestone holds special significance for three stars who emerged from the HAGL academy: Nguyen Cong Phuong, Luong Xuan Truong, and Tran Minh Vuong.

After years of professional play, the trio that once defined the HAGL Arsenal JMG generation has finally secured their first club-level trophy in their careers. Although the First Division championship may not match the prestige of the V.League or National Cup, it remains a meaningful reward for the long, ups-and-downs journey of these players who were once expected to dominate Vietnamese football.

Among them, Minh Vuong likely feels the value of this trophy most keenly. The midfielder, born in 1995, spent the majority of his career in HAGL colors, enduring many seasons struggling in relegation battles. The famous image and quote "spending my youth fighting for survival" once made fans both pity and regret for one of Vietnam's brightest football talents.

For Xuan Truong, the championship is the fruit of a journey marked by many twists. Having played in South Korea and Thailand before returning to Vietnam, the midfielder from Tuyen Quang has always been highly regarded for his skills but lacked luck with club honors. After years of searching for the right fit, he can finally savor the feeling of triumph with Dong Nai.

Notably, Cong Phuong has also relieved a long-standing regret in his career. Once an icon of Vietnamese football for over a decade, the striker from Nghe An has enjoyed significant success at the national team level but lacked a club-level trophy. Last season, he came close to promotion with Binh Phuoc but suffered a bitter loss in the playoff match.

Now, as Dong Nai has officially become champions and earned the right to return to the V.League, Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, and Minh Vuong have, for the first time, lifted a club-level trophy in their careers. That cup may not be the pinnacle they once dreamed of, but it is a well-deserved recognition of the enduring efforts of three players who have left a deep mark on the hearts of Vietnamese football fans.