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Hieu Minh (number 4) scored a double for U23 Vietnam. Photo: Tam Minh . |
Nguyen Hieu Minh's childhood was associated with football and fiery matches with his friends on the brick court of the village temple in Thach That, Hanoi . Realizing his passion and innate talent, his parents took Hieu Minh to Ho Chi Minh City to audition for PVF.
The day he received the admission notice, the whole family was overwhelmed with happiness. However, the journey ahead was much more difficult than the boy had ever imagined.
At only 9 years old, Hieu Minh had to go to Ho Chi Minh City alone to live and train far from his family. Many times, the boy wanted to "return his military equipment" and go home. One of the biggest reasons was his small stature, which made Minh feel out of place in a position that was supposed to be reserved for tall and powerful players.
There was a time when Minh wanted to give up everything to live a simple life like everyone else.
The turning point only really came in 2017, when PVF moved to Hung Yen. Trained in a modern environment, cared for by nutrition and fitness experts, the physique of the player born in 2004 began to change significantly. The boy who used to be self-conscious about his body learned to trust in muscle-building exercises, standardized menus and a scientific lifestyle.
In just the first two years at the new facility, Hieu Minh grew nearly 20 cm taller. By 2021, he had become one of the tallest central defenders in the Vietnam U19 team, winning the national U19 championship with PVF after previously winning the U17 National Cup.
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At the age of 21, Hieu Minh has an ideal body shape with a height of 1.84 m and a weight of 76 kg. |
At the age of 21, Hieu Minh has an ideal body with a height of 1.84 m and a weight of 76 kg. Although he is often assigned to play as a defensive midfielder in PVF-CAND, his versatility allows Minh to move back to play as a central defender when needed. His ability to read situations, fight in the air and compete are his outstanding strengths.
In the 2024/25 season, Hieu Minh played 1,501 minutes - a number that shows that he is one of the players who played the most for PVF-CAND. In fact, since he was 17 years old, he was trusted by coach Mauro Jeronimo to be the main player for Pho Hien in the First Division. The draw against Phu Tho that year became an important milestone, marking the remarkable growth of this young player.
In the opening match of U23 Vietnam at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, the 3-0 victory over U23 Laos did not come from famous stars like Viktor Le, Quoc Viet or Dinh Bac, but Nguyen Hieu Minh was the name that shone brightly. He scored two goals in the 70th and 83rd minutes, sealing the victory for U23 Vietnam.
“I’m happy because whoever scores deserves praise, but congratulations to Hieu Minh. He had a great performance,” coach Kim Sang-sik said emotionally. Hieu Minh himself choked up: “I’m very happy with these two goals. This will be the motivation for me to try harder in the upcoming matches.”
This victory helped U23 Vietnam rise to the top of Group B, but the greater value lies in the story of maturity of a player who was once on the edge of a dream. Coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized: "The first match is always difficult. U23 Laos defended tightly, but the players knew how to make a difference and maintain a balance between attack and defense."
Among the generation of young players gradually taking over from their seniors, Nguyen Hieu Minh has emerged as an example of determination and perseverance. From a boy who once thought he would never go far, he is now rewriting his destiny with steady feet and a never-give-up spirit. This tournament is not only a launching pad for his career, but also proof that, as long as he does not give up, anyone can change themselves.
Source: https://znews.vn/cau-thu-lap-cu-dup-cho-u23-viet-nam-tung-muon-bo-bong-da-post1570006.html
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