HAGL drew 3-3 with Quang Nam in the final round of V-League 2024-2025 on 22/6. This match marked Minh Vuong's last game for the mountain town team. He started as captain and left the field in the 73rd minute to the applause of the Pleiku stadium crowd.

Midfielder Tran Minh Vuong bids farewell to Pleiku fans after the 3-3 draw with Quang Nam in the final round of V-League 2024-2025, on the evening of 22/6. Photo: HLC

After the match, Minh Vuong shared his mixed emotions about leaving the place he has called home for 18 years. He expressed gratitude for the affection from Gia Lai fans, the HAGL club, and Mr. Duc personally.

"I don't know if this is my second hometown, but if I hadn't come here as a child, I'm not sure I could have achieved what I have today," he added.

Born in 1995, Minh Vuong achieved success in his hometown of Thai Binh's youth teams. In 2007, he tried out for the first HAGL-JMG Academy class, alongside players like Tuan Anh, Van Toan, and Cong Phuong, but wasn't initially accepted. Recognizing his talent, Mr. Duc decided to keep him and other promising players in the youth training program.

Minh Vuong later earned call-ups to the national U19 team, alongside his more famous academy teammates. He made his V-League debut relatively early, in 2013. In the 2014 V-League, he scored a memorable goal against An Giang in the 16th round, dribbling past four defenders and the goalkeeper, a goal considered one of the best in the league's history. That same year, he won the Vietnam Young Player of the Year award.

Minh Vuong played a total of 230 matches for HAGL, scoring 49 goals and winning bronze medals in the National Cup in 2014 and 2022. "My biggest regret is leaving HAGL without a championship title," the 30-year-old midfielder told VnExpress. "But that's not why I'm leaving. For me, no title or success compares to the joy and pride of playing for HAGL."

HAGL had high expectations, but for over a decade, they haven't been title contenders. They often find themselves in the bottom half of the table, fighting for survival in the final rounds. Minh Vuong's famous quote, "Spending my youth fighting relegation," reflects this struggle.

When asked about this quote, he explained, "My youth with HAGL has ended, but the memories are beautiful. Despite the regrets, HAGL remains my second family. I wish the team much success in the future."

Midfielder Tran Minh Vuong celebrates his goal against South Korea in Vietnam's 1-3 loss in the 2018 Asiad semi-final in Indonesia. Photo: Duc Dong

Despite his dedication to HAGL, Minh Vuong's national team career was less successful. He played for the U19 team in 2013 and 2014, the U23 team in 2017 and 2018, and the national team from 2017 to 2022. However, injuries and selection setbacks often hampered his progress in major tournaments, preventing him from winning any titles. His most memorable moment was his stunning goal against South Korea in Vietnam's 1-3 semi-final loss at the 2018 Asian Games.

Duc Dong