Van Thi Thanh is one of the famous names of Vietnamese women's football.
During his playing career, the former striker from Ha Nam received many prestigious titles, including the Vietnam Golden Ball in 2003, the Vietnam Silver Ball in 2005, and one of the 10 outstanding athletes of Vietnamese sports in 2003 and 2005.
In 2009, she said goodbye to the national team and retired in 2011. After that, the former player born in 1985 pursued a coaching career. She is currently leading the Thai Nguyen T&T women's team.
Off the field, former player Van Thi Thanh is a single mother. After ending her 6-year marriage, she focused on her work and taking care of her first son.
Talking to Lao Dong, the former midfielder of Vietnam's women's football team shared: "I am passionate about my job and want to contribute a lot to women's football. Because thanks to women's football, Van Thi Thanh is who she is today. Thanks to football, I am also better off. Football brings me many good things, so I have to contribute appropriately.
However, I also have to sacrifice a lot for football. People often think I am strong. My players think so too. They often say that I am very strict on the field. But I am also a woman so I am not that strong. I have to take care of my family, my parents, my children. I cried a lot and wanted to give up many times. But behind me, there are still many people I have to take care of, so I have to be strong and move on."
The head coach of the Thai Nguyen T&T women's team hopes that in the coming time, her work will progress well and if fate allows, she will meet a companion.
"I want to be with someone who can be a solid support for me. I hope they can sympathize and share, because I have stumbled once so I am always cautious. Besides, I hope they can accept my job, because I am really passionate about football, so sometimes I cannot take care of my family.
I am only 39 years old, not too old. I still want to have a support system. After all the hard work on the field, I want someone to share with. Everyone wants to be loved. I also want to go with a friend to see the autumn in Hanoi, smell the milk flowers, and chat with each other.
However, I am not in a hurry because I have experienced a breakup. For now, I still need to focus on doing my job well. If the time is right, the person I am looking for will come," former player Van Thi Thanh expressed.
