In 2023, Le Giang made a significant decision, leaving European football for Vietnam, his father's homeland. He gave up his career in Europe to embark on a new journey.

After a lengthy and challenging process to complete the federation transfer procedures, Le Giang Patrik finally debuted for the Vietnamese national team. His first appearance was in a 4-0 friendly victory against Myanmar, followed by a 7-0 win against Timor Leste in the opening group stage match of the ASEAN Cup 2026. In an exclusive interview with the Slovakian newspaper, the 33-year-old goalkeeper shared his experiences waiting for FIFA approval, the demanding playing conditions in Asia, and his plans after retirement.

Goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik greets fans before a friendly match against Myanmar at Thai Nguyen Stadium on 18/7. *Photo: Luong Hieu*

Before starting in the ASEAN Cup 2026 opener against Timor Leste, a 7-0 victory, you played your first match for Vietnam, a 4-0 win against Myanmar, keeping a clean sheet. How did you feel after the final whistle?

"The emotion was hard to describe. I had waited for this day for more than three and a half years, ever since I arrived in Vietnam. The moment I boarded the plane, I clearly defined my goal. I knew I would build a completely new life and start from scratch."

"I practically changed my entire life. After a very long time, it finally came true. Before the match, I recalled the entire journey. It wasn't just about one match, but everything that led up to it. The emotions truly overwhelmed me."

When on the field, did you think of your father, who has Vietnamese roots?

"Of course. I thought of my father, my brother, my mother, my entire family, and those who have always supported me along the way. Every time the national anthem played before a match, I thought of them."

You previously played for Slovakia's youth teams. What does it feel like to stand and sing a different national anthem at the international level?

"It's a different experience, but not entirely new to me. In Vietnam, the national anthem is played and sung before every V-League match. I learned it a long time ago, always sing along, and now I am a Vietnamese citizen."

"I am proud to carry Vietnamese blood. But I also never forget where I was born and raised. I am still proud to be Slovakian, and today I represent Vietnam and am incredibly proud of that."

"It was a special moment. Standing on the field, I was acutely aware of the honor and immense responsibility of representing a country with over 100 million people."

How challenging was the process of applying for a Vietnamese passport and citizenship?

"If I had to describe the difficulty, I honestly don't know if I've ever experienced anything more complex in my life. The sheer volume of administrative procedures and paperwork exhausted me. There were times I saw no hope."

"But I always believed in destiny and a greater power. I believed that with enough determination and persistence, a solution would eventually emerge. I had dreamed of this for a very long time. This was my biggest goal, and now I have made that dream a reality."

"After three years, I finally received citizenship through a special exemption. The Vietnamese national team coach immediately called me up. He had been waiting for me for more than two years, and we always stayed in touch. Since I had never played for the Slovakian national team, I thought I met all the conditions to switch to Vietnam."

"However, another issue arose, related to a FIFA regulation. It stated that my last match for the Slovakia U21 team could not have occurred after I exceeded that age limit. Yet, I played my last match when I was 21 years and two months old. At that point, things became very serious. I even faced the risk of never being able to play for the Vietnamese national team. I was truly shocked."

How did you eventually resolve the issue with FIFA?

"I immediately contacted two lawyers, Marketa Haindlova and Jakub Porsch, from the Czech Association of Football Players (CAFH). Without them, I couldn't have overcome this, and I will be forever grateful. I am still a member of the association, and they always provide excellent support."

"The lawyers immediately reviewed all FIFA statutes, including the latest amendments, and they found a solution."

"They discovered that since 2020, FIFA has applied a new rule. If a player's last match at the U21 level occurred before a specified date, the age limit would no longer apply."

"My last match for Slovakia U21 in the qualifiers took place 13 years ago, but I was still eligible for the new rule. The VFF then immediately submitted an application to FIFA, which was approved."

"I will never forget that moment. While sitting on the bus, I received a call from the club management informing me that FIFA had approved the application. I must admit, I shed tears of relief and happiness."

After all you went through, playing in front of the home crowd must have been a special moment.

"The emotions were intense. I just hoped my debut would go smoothly, especially as it was the final rehearsal before the ASEAN Cup 2026. There were 22,000 spectators at Thai Nguyen Stadium, a full house. It was an incredible experience."

"Fans in Slovakia might find it hard to imagine the football atmosphere in Southeast Asia. Here, football is almost a religion, the number one sport. When Vietnam won the ASEAN Cup two years ago, the streets were packed with people, almost impossible to move. Vietnamese people have a strong national spirit."

Le Giang Patrik plays during Vietnam's 7-0 victory over Timor Leste in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026, at Chonburi Stadium, Thailand, on the evening of 24/7. *Photo: Duc Dong*

In Vietnam, you were voted the best V-League goalkeeper and ranked among the top 3 foreign players in the Vietnam Golden Ball awards. In your opinion, how does the V-League compare to the Slovakian championship?

"When I decided to come to Vietnam, I remember the reactions of many people in Slovakia. They asked if I would even need to bring my gloves, implying that the league here was of low quality."

"But the reality is the opposite. This is a demanding league that requires high physical fitness. I was surprised by the technical skill of Vietnamese players. What impressed me most was their fighting spirit and dedication to training. You never have to urge Vietnamese players to try harder in training. They possess these qualities naturally. I believe hard work has become part of the Vietnamese DNA."

"Being ranked in the top 3 foreign players for the Vietnam Golden Ball award is a great honor. Everyone knows goalkeepers are always at a disadvantage in such awards compared to attacking players. The other two in the top 3 were Brazilian forwards from the championship-winning team."

Have the regulations regarding foreign players in the league changed? Previously, each team could only use three foreign players.

"That's right. From the 2026-2027 season, each team is allowed to field a maximum of four foreign players simultaneously. Last season, the rule was three foreign players on the field and one on the bench."

"Besides regular foreign players, Vietnamese football now frequently discusses the concept of 'Viet kieu.' These are players of Vietnamese origin living in Europe or America who return to play. I belong to this group."

"Since last season, each club's quota has increased to two slots for Viet kieu players. This is a major trend in Vietnam, though not everyone can prove themselves."

Why do many European players, despite impressive resumes, struggle when they come to play in Vietnam?

"In my opinion, the issue is not just professional skill but also adaptability. There have been famous players who came here after playing in the Bundesliga or Ligue 1. But after only two months, they gave up and returned because they couldn't adapt to life in Vietnam."

"The culture and lifestyle here are completely different. If Vietnamese players see you not putting in effort during training, you're out of chances. They won't accept you."

What was your biggest challenge when you first arrived in Asia?

"Certainly the language barrier and the climate. Temperatures near 40 degrees Celsius are demanding, but the real challenge is the high humidity. To illustrate, after every match, I usually lose about 4 kg due to dehydration. That's normal here."

"Now I'm used to it, but my body is still under great stress after every match. Conversely, life in Vietnam has completely changed my lifestyle and recovery regimen. This is a great school of life for me. Three and a half years in Vietnam have taught me more lessons than 30 years living in Europe."

"I was completely pushed out of my comfort zone and had to manage everything myself. The first five to six months were the hardest time of my life. Everything only changed when I moved to TP HCM, Vietnam's most populous city with about 14 million people, more than the combined population of Slovakia and the Czech Republic."

What are the upcoming goals for the Vietnamese national team? In your opinion, can Vietnam participate in a world-class tournament?

"This year, we achieved a significant accomplishment by qualifying for the Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia. The tournament gathers strong teams like Korea, Japan, and Australia. For Asian football, this is equivalent to the Euro in Europe."

"As for the biggest goal, the dream of every Vietnamese person is to participate in the World Cup 2030. FIFA's plan to expand the number of participating teams to 64 significantly increases the opportunities for developing football nations in Asia."

"However, right now I don't want to think too far ahead to 2030. I am focused on the present."

Vietnam enters the ASEAN Cup as the defending champion. The group, with Singapore, Timor Leste, Cambodia, and Indonesia, is considered manageable, but the pressure must be immense?

"We are the defending champions, but few know that Vietnam has never successfully defended this title. This time, we want to make history. It's not easy to bear the pressure from 100 million people and the domestic media. We must remain calm."

"Additionally, Indonesia has naturalized many players from abroad. We also face a packed schedule with continuous travel across Southeast Asia. The most important group stage match will be the away game against Indonesia on 3/8."

"Recently, I realized I first came to Vietnam 17 years ago, exactly when the national team first won this tournament. At that time, the streets were full of people celebrating. It's interesting that many years later, I get to participate in that very tournament."

Le Giang Patrik catches the ball during Vietnam's 7-0 victory over Timor Leste in Group A of the ASEAN Cup 2026, at Chonburi Stadium, Thailand, on the evening of 24/7. *Photo: Duc Dong*

In Asia, few national teams possess as many quality goalkeepers as Vietnam. Who are you competing with for the number one spot?

"The team has many excellent goalkeepers. What's interesting is that I am not the only goalkeeper with both Vietnamese and European heritage."

"For many years, the number one position belonged to Dang Van Lam, a Russian-Vietnamese goalkeeper. There's also Nguyen Filip, whom I know from my time playing in the Czech Republic. We once played together for Vlasim Club. It's fair to say the national team currently has three goalkeepers of mixed Vietnamese heritage competing for one position."

"Coach Kim Sang-sik has been following me for more than two years. Therefore, I always have to maintain my performance to prove I deserve to be called up. Last season, I played every minute in both the V-League and the National Cup. In the first training camp, the coach called me into his room and said something that deeply moved me: 'Patrik, I know your captaincy at TP HCM Club is not a coincidence'."

Have you become proficient in Vietnamese communication?

"Recently, I answered some questions in Vietnamese during a television interview, which surprised many people. Those videos quickly went viral on YouTube and TikTok."

"On the field, I have learned all the necessary commands in Vietnamese. Interestingly, the club previously had a Brazilian player who didn't speak English. To command him from my goalkeeper position, I also learned basic Portuguese phrases. There were matches where I had to use three languages simultaneously: English, Vietnamese, and Portuguese."

Have you considered life after retirement? Do you plan to return to Slovakia?

"Honestly, Vietnam is my home now. The last time I visited my family in Slovakia, when I was at the airport returning, I suddenly thought: 'Now I am flying home, to Vietnam'."

"TP HCM is a vibrant city, which many call the 'New York of Vietnam'. It offers many opportunities for life and the future."

"After retirement, I still want to stay involved in sports, but not only that. I have long cherished a dream: to build a comprehensive education center for children, combined with my Step by Step fund, to help disadvantaged children, such as orphans or children with disabilities. I also want to establish a scholarship system to support them."

Was it your childhood that motivated you to pursue that goal?

"Yes. I was just a normal boy from the town of Filakovo in Slovakia, but I want to prove that everyone has something special and can achieve great things."

"I vividly remember my early days playing football. I was never the most talented player on the team. Many people around me were better. But many of them lacked a good family environment or the necessary support. I was fortunate to always have my family's companionship and never gave up on my dream."

"I am especially grateful to my brother, who was also my first idol and helped me always keep faith."

"I understand that you cannot turn 1,000 children into 1,000 professional athletes. But I am confident that I can help 1,000 children become good leaders, with the right values, and succeed in any field."

One final question, do you miss halusky, bacon, or traditional Slovakian dishes?

"I miss halusky, but I think it's simple. Once a year when I return to Slovakia, I will eat my fill. What I miss most when living in Asia is not the food, but my family, close friends, and the Tatras mountains. Every time I go back, if I have time, I go to the mountains."

"Conversely, Vietnam has a special appeal. Any Slovakian who stays here longer than a short trip tells me they don't want to go back anymore. When you truly understand Vietnam, you will love this country. Vietnamese people are very friendly, but on the football field, they always demand maximum dedication."

"My brother and I grew up in two cultures. From our mother, we learned European values. From our father, we embraced the strictness, discipline, and integrity of Asian people."

"All these things have become a part of who I am and have helped me become who I am today."

Xuan Binh (according to Aktuality)