Born in Hanoi in 2008 to a Vietnamese mother and Croatian father, Antonio Moric has previously attended several football summer camps in Vietnam. He currently plays for NK Trnje in the Croatian Second Division.

Moric was initially called up for the U19 Vietnam squad before being promoted to train with the U23 team as part of a pre-planned initiative. The coaching staff recognizes his versatility, noting his ability to play as an attacking midfielder, winger, and forward. This period serves as a crucial assessment of Moric's quality and adaptability.

Vietnamese-diaspora player Antonio Moric trains with the U23 team at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center in Hanoi, 17/3. Photo: Hieu Luong

After three days of training, the 18-year-old striker, with his black hair streaked with white, admitted to facing challenges transitioning from a European training environment to Southeast Asia. "I feel a bit tired due to the change in environment," Moric stated before the afternoon training session on 19/3. "There is a significant difference in training intensity between U19 Trnje and U23 Vietnam. However, the difference between U23 Vietnam and Trnje's first team is not substantial."

Moric shared that he found it easy to integrate into the team atmosphere. He can still communicate in Vietnamese, though his vocabulary is limited. English remains his preferred and more comfortable option for communication.

When asked about his intentions to play in the V-League, Moric clarified that it is not an immediate goal. He understands where his development would be most beneficial, citing the significant quality difference between European and Asian football. "It might be a long time, perhaps closer to retirement, before I consider the V-League. But not now," Moric explained. "Being able to join the Vietnam national team is already excellent. I realize that the best path for my development is to stay in Europe as long as possible."

Moric follows a line of many Vietnamese-diaspora players from Eastern Europe who have returned to play domestically. From 2010, notable players included Michal Nguyen (Czech Republic heritage), Dang Van Robert (Slovakia), and Mac Hong Quan. More recently, the prominent figures are Dang Van Lam, Le Viktor, Vadim Nguyen (Russia), Nguyen Filip (Czech Republic), and Tran Thanh Trung (Bulgaria).

In Croatia, Moric previously drew attention by scoring 5 goals in a single match for U18 Trnje. He recounted that this occurred when he was temporarily moved from the U19 to the U18 squad after returning from an injury. "I scored 5 goals in about 15 minutes. At that time, I wanted to prove I was in good form. The coach said that was what he expected. I believe I made the coach proud and then returned to the U19 team," Moric shared.

Moric's most admired Croatian player is Luka Modric. He describes Modric as a leader with incredible endurance and hopes that Modric's strong performance at AC Milan will help his idol and Croatia qualify for the World Cup 2026.

Moric's most recent impression of Vietnamese football was the U23 Asia 2026 bronze medal victory against South Korea. "My favorite player is Nguyen Dinh Bac. He has shown excellent qualities," Moric stated. "We are both wing forwards and have quite similar playing styles. I also occasionally watch the V-League when Dinh Bac plays for Cong an Ha Noi."

According to the schedule, U23 Vietnam will travel to China on 22/3 to participate in the CFA China Team Cup friendly tournament. Moric will then rejoin the U19 Vietnam squad, but interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh believes there is still an opportunity for the striker if he continues to show good adaptation.