Will Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club compete for relegation again?

With a more limited domestic player force than last season, will Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club have to struggle more in the V-League relegation race?

Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club practices for the new season 2025-2026 - Photo: PHUONG NGAN

Last season, Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC could only stay in the league before the last two rounds. The mountain town team then ranked 9th overall with 29 points after 26 matches, 4 points more than the second-to-last teamSHB Da Nang who had to play a play-off to win the right to stay in the league.

This season, things seem to be even more difficult for Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club after saying goodbye to a series of key players. Notable players include captain Minh Vuong, Chau Ngoc Quang, Pham Ly Duc, Dung Quang Nho, Tran Bao Toan, and Le Van Son.

To strengthen the team, the team brought in four players who had grown up at Hoang Anh Gia Lai Academy and NutiFood JMG: Hoang Vinh Nguyen, Tran Gia Huy, Tuan Vu, Duy Tam, and overseas Vietnamese player Ryan Ha. But all of them are difficult to compare with the names that have left.

Understanding that, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club has made the most of the 4 registered foreign player slots to support the young players.

Foreign players of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club in the match against the Korean student team - Photo: HAGL FC

In addition to retaining central defender Jairo Filho and midfielder Marciel Silva, coach Le Quang Trai has brought in two new Brazilian players, midfielder Khevin Fraga and striker Gabriel Conceicao.

At the same time, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club also increases friendly matches domestically and in Thailand to help young players mature and perfect the squad.

Domestically, Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club won the runner-up position at the 2025 Thien Long Training Tournament in Quang Nam after losing 1-3 to Ninh Binh in the final match.

Previously, the team won SHB Da Nang 3-1, lost to Ninh Binh 0-2 and tied the Korean Student team 1-1 in the group stage.

But the training trip to Thailand did not yield the expected results. The team drew 2-2 with Prime Bangkok Club and PT Prachuap before losing the remaining three matches with the same score of 1-2 against Kasem Bundit Club, Kanchanaburi and Pattaya United.

The limitations of the training trip in Thailand will help coach Le Quang Trai and his team look back and improve for the V-League 2025-2026, which promises to be not easy.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club will play its opening match against Becamex TP.HCM Club at Pleiku Stadium on August 17. At that time, fans will more or less clearly see the true ability of the mountain town team.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/clb-hoang-anh-gia-lai-se-lai-dua-tru-hang-2025081317214113.htm