"Transit station" of Vietnam U20 women's team

Hong Yeu gradually gets used to the position of central midfielder

When mentioning Hong Yeu, Vietnamese women's football fans immediately remember the image of a tall player, with long legs and a physique that surpasses the average of her teammates of the same age.

Since she was 16 years old, in the Vietnam U17 women's team, she was nearly 1m70 tall, a rare figure in women's youth football. That advantage made coach Akira Ijiri at that time arrange for her to play as a center back, a "shield" in front of the goal in regional and continental youth tournaments.

However, time and training have helped Hong Yeu develop many skills beyond the stereotype of a defender. At the 2025 National U19 Women's Tournament, under the Phong Phu Ha Nam Club, the coaches recognized her sharpness in reading situations, neat touches and the ability to calmly handle all pressure.

This is the reason why coach Okiyama Masahiko boldly promoted her to play as a central midfielder - a position that requires comprehensive physical strength, tactical thinking and personal technique. "At first, I was a bit worried because I was not used to the new task. But gradually, I learned how to handle, distribute the ball and read the game better. Now I feel much more confident," Hong Yeu confided.

In the 2026 AFC U20 Women's Qualifiers, Hong Yeu did not score but made a big impact. She was a reliable "transit station" for the team, often intercepting the ball from afar, neutralizing the opponent's attacks with decisive headers. When holding the ball, she rarely made a bad pass, even in matches where the Vietnamese U20 Women's midfield was under heavy pressure.

Hong Yeu's maturity is most evident in her ability to move intelligently to create coordination options. She always stays calm when being pressed by opponents, choosing safe solutions while still ensuring the rhythm of the ball. In the role of anchor midfielder, Hong Yeu helps reduce pressure on the defense and is also the starting point for many attacking situations.

Coach Okiyama Masahiko often asks Hong Yeu to play with a wide range, not limited to the midfield area but ready to drop deep to win the ball or advance to join the attack. Thanks to her abundant physical strength, she can maintain a high intensity of movement throughout the 90 minutes.

The opening match against Singapore was a typical example. Hong Yeu played the entire match, attacking and defending rhythmically, not afraid of collisions and always kept her composure. “I feel like I showed my fighting spirit, but I still need to improve my defensive ability and composure. I also feel a bit regretful that I didn’t take advantage of the scoring opportunities created by my teammates. I will try harder in the upcoming matches,” she shared.

Not only is Hong Yeu highly regarded for her expertise, she also wins the hearts of her teammates and fans for her receptive attitude. She listens and learns from her coach and seniors, and is willing to admit her mistakes to improve herself.

Off the field, she impresses with her gentle voice, friendly demeanor, and politeness to everyone. In youth tournaments, the image of a tall Hong Yeu, with neat hair, always smiling when communicating has become familiar. She does not consider her appearance as an advantage to become famous, but considers it a motivation for her to be worthy of the audience's attention through her efforts on the field.

Vietnamese women’s football is in a transitional phase, when the golden generation of Huynh Nhu, Chuong Thi Kieu, Tuyet Dung… gradually passes its peak. Young players like Hong Yeu bring positive signals for the future, especially when she combines physical qualities, skills and discipline.

The road ahead is still long, Hong Yeu needs to continue practicing to perfect skills such as accurate long passes, long-range shooting and the ability to cover for teammates. But if she maintains her current form and desire, she can absolutely become an important link in the national team in the coming years.

“I have always dreamed of wearing the Vietnamese national team jersey in major tournaments. Every training session and every match now is an opportunity to get closer to that goal,” Hong Yeu affirmed.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/tram-trung-chuyen-cua-u20-nu-viet-nam-160647.html