Vietnam's starting lineup in the AFF U-23 Championship final against Indonesia at Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta on 29/7. Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (blue) stands out with his 1.91 m height. Photo: Tuan Viet

Vietnam's starting lineup in the AFF U-23 Championship final against Indonesia at Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta on 29/7. Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (blue) stands out with his 1.91 m height. Photo: Tuan Viet

Trung Kien played in all four of Vietnam's matches, conceding only two goals, contributing to the team's third consecutive AFF U-23 Championship title. Photo: Tuan Viet

Kien delivered a solid performance in the final, becoming a key component of Vietnam's defensive-counterattacking strategy.

He not only neutralized Indonesia's aerial attacks but also emerged victorious in two one-on-one situations with Jens Raven and Rayhan Hannan.

At the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship, coach Kim showed continued faith in Kien, selecting him as the starting goalkeeper despite the experience of Cao Van Binh. Photo: Tuan Viet

Trung Kien played in all four of Vietnam's matches, conceding only two goals, contributing to the team's third consecutive AFF U-23 Championship title. Photo: Tuan Viet

Born on 18/2/2003, Tran Trung Kien hails from Hung Yen but grew up in Pleiku, Gia Lai. His parents, a driver and a marketer, had no background in sports. Kien’s childhood revolved around soccer, playing on a dirt field near his home.

As his passion grew, Kien faced opposition from his family. His parents wanted him to focus on his studies.

However, his determination and burgeoning talent gradually won them over. At 11, he joined the Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) academy. There, he received structured training aimed at making him the club's top goalkeeper.

During 2022-2023, Kien was loaned to Dong Nai and Cong An Nhan Dan in the V.League 2 to gain experience.

In 2024, Kien became HAGL's hero, saving penalties in three consecutive matches to help the team win their first national U-23 championship. He was also awarded the Best Goalkeeper title.

Prior to this, Kien was part of Vietnam's youth teams in the 2018 AFF U-15 Championship, the 2020 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers, and the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.

These successes at the youth level paved the way for Kien to become HAGL's starting goalkeeper in the V.League. He also caught the attention of coach Kim Sang-sik.

Kien received his first national team call-up for the 2024 ASEAN Cup, serving as the third-choice goalkeeper behind Nguyen Dinh Trieu and Filip Nguyen.

At the 2025 AFF U-23 Championship, coach Kim showed continued faith in Kien, selecting him as the starting goalkeeper despite the experience of Cao Van Binh. Photo: Tuan Viet

Kien repaid this trust with consistently strong performances, providing a reliable presence for his teammates. "Playing with Kien gives us great confidence. He's tall, reads aerial situations very well, and commands the defense like a leader," commented Pham Ly Duc, his teammate at both HAGL and the U-23 national team.

Trung Kien, holding the championship trophy, returned to Ho Chi Minh City with his teammates on 30/7.

After a single night's rest, he departed for Thailand to rejoin HAGL for their pre-season training ahead of the 2025-2026 V.League season.

Beyond his skills on the field, Kien's handsome features and masculine looks have earned him a large fan base. His mother, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, shared that her son is responsible and has always prioritized supporting his family since earning an income.

Duc Dong