Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien earned widespread praise for his numerous brilliant saves, which helped Vietnam defeat Saudi Arabia 1-0. Online forums and groups compared him to a "spider-man" and a "stone wall".

The U23 Vietnam national team's number one goalkeeper posted a brief status update saying, "My Vietnam is in Asia," accompanied by images of his impressive saves. He immediately received countless congratulatory messages from fans, experts, and colleagues. Among them, goalkeepers Dang Van Lam, Tran Nguyen Manh, Nguyen Van Viet, and Phan Dinh Vu Hai all offered high praise for their younger peer.

Nguyen Dinh Trieu, who played alongside Trung Kien during the ASEAN Cup 2024 championship and the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, lauded the young goalkeeper, saying, "You were amazing last night." On the afternoon of 13/1, Dinh Trieu further shared with VnExpress that Trung Kien's performance deserved a perfect 10. "What he is showing is excellent. However, I think we should let Kien and the players focus on playing rather than overly praising them," added the Hai Phong club goalkeeper.

At the conclusion of the U23 Asia 2026 group stage, Vietnam secured three consecutive wins, scoring 5 goals and conceding only one from a tricky shot by a Kyrgyzstan player. Trung Kien contributed significantly to this achievement. With his excellent reflexes, precise positioning, and timely charges, the HAGL club goalkeeper commanded the penalty area.

According to Tran Nguyen Manh, who was Vietnam's number one goalkeeper for many years and currently plays for Nam Dinh, Trung Kien's remarkable progress in recent tournaments is due to his strong mentality and quick situation reading ability.

"Kien is young but plays with maturity and confidence. If he maintains this form, he will be Vietnam's number one goalkeeper in the near future," Nguyen Manh affirmed. "Kien possesses the qualities of a top goalkeeper: ideal height, long reach, quick reflexes, and accurate judgment. I am impressed by Kien's performance in all three recent matches, not just the victory against Saudi Arabia."

Goalkeeper Trung Kien accurately catches a high ball as Vietnam defeated Saudi Arabia in the final match of Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 tournament, at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on the evening of 12/1. Photo: AFC

Goalkeeper Trung Kien accurately catches a high ball as Vietnam defeated Saudi Arabia in the final match of Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 tournament, at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on the evening of 12/1. Photo: AFC

According to goalkeeping coach Nguyen The Anh, who previously worked with Trung Kien in Vietnam's youth teams, the U23 player did not initially show signs of being an outstanding goalkeeper. However, through diligent training and experience in various club, U-team, and national team environments, Kien has developed himself into a solid last line of defense.

"When he was called up to the U22 team under coach Troussier, Kien was only the third-choice goalkeeper at HAGL, with a slender build and limited playing experience. I advised him to train diligently and hit the gym to build muscle. He is now shining thanks to his physique and strong mentality. Kien will soon be the number one custodian for Vietnamese football," coach The Anh stated.

Observing Trung Kien's swift and accurate actions, both coach The Anh and goalkeeper Nguyen Manh believe that, in addition to his height advantage, Trung Kien's rapid progress is due to his early exposure to V-League play in the last two seasons.

"At the club, he faces more pressure because HAGL is constantly under attack, frequently clashing with foreign strikers. This has given Kien a strong mentality and quick reflexes," Mr. The Anh analyzed. "For a goalkeeper, psychological strength is crucial. Overconfidence can lead to basic errors, while excessive fear can result in foolish mistakes. But Kien is calm, controls the game, is not rushed, makes decisive judgments, and resolves all situations safely and effectively. He instills great confidence in his teammates."

Goalkeeper Trung Kien celebrates after defeating Saudi Arabia in the final match of Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 tournament, at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on the evening of 12/1. Photo: AFC

Goalkeeper Trung Kien celebrates after defeating Saudi Arabia in the final match of Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 tournament, at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium on the evening of 12/1. Photo: AFC

Born on 18/2/2003, Trung Kien is originally from Hung Yen but was born and raised in Pleiku, Gia Lai. His family has no sports tradition, with his father working as a driver and his mother in marketing. Like other players, Trung Kien developed his passion through neighborhood football matches. According to coach Khong Tam Cuong, Trung Kien's first teacher, his student was only notable for his height compared to peers when he was young, but his father did not support his football aspirations, wanting his son to focus on academics.

Mr. Cuong recounted that he gathered players from the poor neighborhood in Gia Lai to form a school football team, allowing them to pursue their passion and improve their health. As a child, Trung Kien not only played as a goalkeeper but also in various other positions. He also endured many punishments from his father for playing football and neglecting his studies.

However, recognizing his student's potential to become a top goalkeeper, Mr. Cuong diligently helped him seek trials at HAGL. "When Kien graduated from primary school, he and I went to the HAGL academy multiple times to apply, but because HAGL was not holding recruitment at the time, we had to return to Pleiku disappointed many times, and at one point, he almost gave up. At 11 years old, Kien was accepted for a one-month trial and then 'passed' at Ham Rong. Some time later, when I met him again, I saw that he was taller than me, thanks to the better nutrition and training environment at HAGL compared to home," coach Tam Cuong recounted with pride.

From a goalkeeper who "begged" his way into the HAGL academy, Trung Kien developed quickly through various youth tournaments. During 2022-2023, he was successively loaned to Dong Nai and Cong an Nhan dan to play in the First Division league to gain experience. In 2024, he became a hero for HAGL by making three consecutive excellent penalty saves, helping the young Pleiku team win the National U21 Championship for the first time.

Goalkeeper Trung Kien (far left) on an outing with coach Khong Tam Cuong, co-founder of Pleiku School FC. Photo: NVCC

Goalkeeper Trung Kien (far left) on an outing with coach Khong Tam Cuong, co-founder of Pleiku School FC. Photo: NVCC

Before shining at the U23 levels, Trung Kien was also part of Vietnam's youth teams that competed in the U15 Southeast Asia 2018 tournament, the U19 Asia 2020 qualifiers, and the U23 Asia 2022 finals. Under coach Kim Sang-sik, Kien participated in and won the ASEAN Cup 2024 as the third-choice goalkeeper, behind senior players Nguyen Dinh Trieu and Filip Nguyen. He then became a key factor in helping Vietnam win the U23 Southeast Asia 2024 championship and a gold medal at SEA Games 33.

"Trung Kien used to be a 'spoiled child,' pale and thin, but thanks to football and good care, he developed rapidly. Kien is affectionate, thoughtful, and very respectful. After tournaments, he often seeks me out for a chat. Kien has a dream of returning to his old primary school to do something meaningful for his former home," added Mr. Cuong, co-founder of Pleiku School FC.

Duc Dong