Few people expected discovery
Phan Van Duc is no stranger to young football players in the 2014-2017 period. This guy with a slim figure performed quite well in the Song Lam Nghe An shirt before being promoted to the first team. Each generation of players, Vinh Stadium welcomes a few special young players and Phan Van Duc is that person.
But to most fans, at that time, Van Duc was still a stranger. He has not shined immediately in the V.League like many of his seniors. The performance in the U21 team and the impact of the domestic assistant made Mr. Park Hang-seo choose Van Duc to the list of U23 Vietnam. He was taken to Changzhou to participate in the 2018 U23 Asian Cup finals.
Van Duc is thin, small but incredibly durable. He responded to the tactics requested by Mr. Park. The midfielder born in 1996 had difficulty defending and then moved up to support the attack. In the match against Iraq, Van Duc's equalizer 3-3 in the 120th minute opened a historic victory, putting U23 Vietnam on an unbelievable journey.
Since then, Phan Van Duc has always had a position in the national team. He plays simply, not beautifully but effectively. Phan Van Duc has also shined at many times. The long-range shot in the match against China in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers is an example.
Injuries and absence
However, the knee injury in the Hanoi Police club shirt took away many things from Phan Van Duc. From the end of coach Park Hang-seo's time to Mr. Troussier's time and now Kim Sang-sik, Van Duc gradually fading away and gave way to the younger generation such as Tuan Hai, Vi Hao or Thanh Binh.
There was a controversial youth, but this fostered a special Phan Van Duc. He was mistaken, less talkative and more confident than many other players. On the pitch, an unfaring warrior can also deal with difficult situations.
Until now, the Vietnamese team is still looking for such a type of player. Each player has his own strengths, but to have the quirkiness of this Nghe An player is a rare case.
This season, in the Hanoi Police shirt, Phan Van Duc has played 28 matches, scored 3 goals and had 3 passes for his teammates. That number still cannot meet the team's expectations. At the age of 29, Van Duc's form after injury still brings hope.
When the Vietnamese team is facing difficulties in attack, if Van Duc meets the requirements, coach Kim Sang-sik is ready to give them opportunities in the next training sessions.
