Nguyen Xuan Son 'calls for help' as Nam Dinh claims V-League title

Forward Nguyen Xuan Son and coach Vu Hong Viet were the most sought-after figures by Nam Dinh fans during the V-League 2024-2025 trophy celebration.

Hundreds of fans then flooded the field, surrounding Nguyen Xuan Son for autographs and photos.

On the evening of 22/6, Nam Dinh defeated Ha Tinh 1-0 at Thien Truong Stadium in round 26, concluding the V-League 2024-2025 season with 57 points, eight points ahead of second-place Hanoi FC.

After the award ceremony and parading the trophy around the stadium with the team, Nguyen Xuan Son embraced his wife, Marcele Seippel.

Although sidelined, Son still generated a significant impact for the team whenever he appeared. Many young fans wore shirts with the naturalized striker's image when they came to Thien Truong Stadium.

Elsewhere, coach Vu Hong Viet shared the joy with his fiancee, Thuy Anh (left), a current editor at Vietnam Television (VTV).

When reporters approached for an interview, the Brazilian-born naturalized striker jokingly said, "Save me". He then answered questions while signing autographs on fans' shirts.

"We've been through difficult times together, but the most important thing is that no one was afraid, no one gave up," Son said. "We entered every match with the highest fighting spirit. The connection, the spirit like a family. That's very important as we look towards the next season."

Son missed more than half of the season due to a broken leg suffered in the 2024 ASEAN Cup final in early January while playing for the Vietnam national team. The absence of their key striker caused Nam Dinh difficulties early on, but they gradually regained their form thanks to a solid defense and midfield.

The couple, who have been discreetly dating for the past 4 years, held their engagement ceremony on 15/12/2024 and plan to marry next month.

This season, Nam Dinh again faced early challenges competing on multiple fronts and losing Xuan Son. However, tactical changes and key personnel additions helped them secure the championship, further solidifying Viet's coaching abilities in the eyes of the fans.

Coach Vu Hong Viet has been married previously and has two adult children, a son (right) and a daughter. Both children have been supportive of his remarriage.

Viet's son was present at the stadium to celebrate with his father. Earlier, Viet shared a photo of his two children holding a picture celebrating his second V-League title. "In the end, they said, 'If there's a big bonus, share some with us'," the 1979-born coach shared.

Many fans asked for photos and autographs from the Thai Binh-born coach. Viet was a renowned midfielder in Vietnamese football, playing for Hanoi FC, HAGL, and Hoa Phat Hanoi. After retiring, he pursued a coaching career, working as an assistant with Hanoi's youth team and the Vietnam U15 and U19 national teams.

In 2019, coach Vu Hong Viet led Quang Nam in the V-League and later served as an assistant to coach Park Hang-seo for the Vietnam national team.

Viet joined Nam Dinh in August 2022 and won the 2023-2024 V-League title with 53 points after 26 matches. He faced skepticism from fans who believed the team relied heavily on Xuan Son's talent.