Top 10 Fascinating Facts About Nguyễn Quang Hải - The Hero of Vietnam's National Football Team

The youth football scene in Quang Hải's hometown was quite vibrant, giving him ample opportunities to play in local tournaments. From a young age, Hải stood out as a promising young player in his district, which led to his move to Dương Xá Primary School (Gia Lâm) to continue his studies while nurturing his football talent.

Almost immediately, Hải was placed in the U11 Hanoi team, wearing the number 7 jersey. He trained diligently and later competed in the 2008 Yamaha National Children's Football Cup, where he scored 6 goals, earning a spot among the top 10 players of the tournament.

Success is never handed to you; you have to fight for it. And Quang Hải fought once again. He always knew what he was capable of, starting from a young boy asking his mother for a football, to the time at 11 years old when he overcame homesickness to train relentlessly at the Hanoi Football Training Center. Among thousands of kids learning to be footballers, you can see skills like agility, power, or speed anywhere. But to break through and become a star, it takes something more — something that cannot be learned. One of these traits is vision, the ability to make the right decision in an instant.

Quang Hải has this quality. When the young man from Đông Anh glides across the field, weaving through defenders with skillful moves, his mind is simultaneously analyzing the game, helping him spot gaps in the opponent's defense. This is why Quang Hải excels in any position, whether on the wing, as an attacking midfielder, or central midfielder. In all these roles, he poses a constant threat to the opposition. What stands out is that the now 21-year-old player is never obsessed with scoring goals. He always prioritizes the team's success. During the AFF Cup 2018, Quang Hải scored only 3 goals but provided 22 golden opportunities for his teammates (averaging 2.75 chances per match), the most in the tournament. Vietnam benefited greatly from his playmaking and became champions.

Quang Hải's dedication and hard work are beyond question. Over the years, he has remained steadfast in his vision of one day raising the national flag and smiling as the 2008 generation did. By constantly striving to make this dream a reality, fate ultimately bends to his will. Today, Quang Hải is truly the one chosen by history.

Nguyễn Quang Hải's father, Mr. Nguyễn Quang Thuần, shares: "From a very young age, when Quang Hải was still learning to walk, he was already fascinated by the ball. I remember buying him a plastic ball to play with, even though he couldn't walk well yet, he would cling to it all day. Our house was located at the end of the village, and after we married, my wife and I moved to a new settlement. Across from our house was the village football field. When Quang Hải was about 5 or 6, he would run out to join the older boys whenever they played football. At first, the older boys were hesitant because he was small and frail, but after his persistence, they let him play. That field became a significant part of his childhood, where he took his first steps and made his first shots on goal."

Quang Hải's mother, Mrs. Nguyễn Thị Cúc, remembers: "We were very poor back then, struggling to make a living with farming. Never in our wildest dreams did we think our son would become a footballer. But we saw his love for football. He would always gather his friends to play, sometimes even forgetting his studies. I would call him home and tell him, 'If you don’t focus on your studies, I won’t let you play football.' He would quietly go inside and cry. A few days later, after school, he said to me, 'Mom, I’ve been good at school, can you buy me a leather football?' When he said that, my eyes welled up with tears, but I had to turn away so he wouldn't see."

"At that time, we barely had enough money to eat, let alone buy him a leather football. But I promised him that if he kept studying well, I would work for two days to buy him one. After that, he never mentioned it again. He probably didn’t want to make me struggle. Since he was little, he was very reserved and mature. If he ever did anything that made me upset, he would stop immediately and never misbehave again..."

Quang Hải's mother shared, "It was not an easy decision to send my son away from home at such a young age. At just 9 years old, he was still small and weak. I was afraid he wouldn't have the support of his parents and would feel lonely or deprived. For several nights, I stayed up worrying and debating the choice. At one meal, I suggested, 'Why don't you stay home with me? Who will take care of you there?' He quickly set down his bowl and replied, 'I can take care of myself. Please let me go.' His determination left us with no choice, and after much thought, my husband and I agreed to let him go to the training center."

From a humble village, Quang Hải took his first steps towards professional football in 2007. He was discovered by coach Vũ Minh Hoàng, who recognized his exceptional talent and hardworking spirit. Understanding the struggles of his poor, determined student, Coach Hoàng not only mentored him but also took Quang Hải in as his adopted son, offering him guidance and care as if he were his own.

Whenever Quang Hải felt homesick or emotionally drained after intense training sessions, Coach Hoàng was there to offer support and encouragement, helping him stay focused on his goals. However, around six years ago, as Quang Hải was starting to make a name for himself in national youth competitions like U17, U19, and U21, tragedy struck. Coach Vũ Minh Hoàng passed away in a tragic accident, dealing Quang Hải a devastating blow. The loss of his beloved mentor and father figure was a huge shock that left Quang Hải heartbroken.

Despite the pain, Quang Hải pushed through, dedicating himself to his training in honor of his adopted father's legacy. From that day forward, Quang Hải has carried the memory of Coach Hoàng with him, especially whenever he scores an important goal.

Football has given Quang Hải everything: wealth, fame, and recognition. But this didn’t come easily—it was earned through sweat, tears, pain, and sacrifice.

His mother shares, “Quang Hải has never been complacent. After every victory, I remind him that he must keep working hard. If he rests on his laurels, everything he’s achieved will crumble.”

Despite his success and growing wealth, Quang Hải remains frugal. However, whenever he visits home, he always brings health supplements for his parents. He calls them every day to check if they’ve eaten and how their health is. “He doesn’t waste money on luxuries; instead, he’s building a three-story house next to ours. The construction is almost finished, and it should be ready by the New Year,” says his mother.

When Quang Hải first joined the national U19 team, he wore the number 23 jersey. However, during an overseas match, he suffered an unfortunate injury. After returning home, his mother suggested he switch to the number 19 jersey, which matched his age at the time, hoping it would bring him good luck on the field.

This number proved to be incredibly fortunate for Quang Hải, accompanying him on his journey of growth and skill development. The number 19 even appeared four times on the scoreboard during the AFC U23 Championship, including two instances where it sent Qatar’s goalkeeper scrambling to pick the ball out of the net.

Snowflakes fell thick and fast, and the cold was unbearable. As the wetness seeped through his thin fabric and gloves, Quang Hải stood firm, straining his eyes to find the goal in a world of white. Then, with confidence and determination, he took his shot, sending the ball arcing over the heads of the Uzbek players and into the net. The score was tied 1-1, and the final of the AFC U23 Championship had truly begun. In that magical moment, as a beautiful rainbow emerged through the snowstorm in Changzhou, it felt as if history had chosen Quang Hải to lead Vietnam’s football to a height no one had ever dared to imagine, even in their wildest dreams.

But fate had other plans. The 20-year-old, standing at just 1.68 meters, couldn’t become a legend in the 16 days spent in Changzhou. However, as FOX Sports remarked, "Now, all of Asia knows who Quang Hải is and tips their hats to him."

Understanding the difficult circumstances of his student, Coach Hoàng took Quang Hải in as his adoptive son, guiding him through the challenges of becoming a professional footballer. Six years ago, Coach Vũ Minh Hoàng passed away. Quang Hải often reflects on his late father-figure, especially after scoring significant goals.

After netting a crucial goal against U23 Australia in the group stage, which helped propel U23 Vietnam forward, Quang Hải shared a heartfelt post on his Facebook, remembering Coach Hoàng: "I believe you're so proud of me up there!!! I will keep pushing forward!!!"

At just 2 years old, Quang Hải showed a keen interest in football as soon as he touched the ball. His mother, Lê Thị Cúc, initially thought it was nothing unusual, as many children in their village had similar preferences. She bought him a ball for fun.

From then on, whenever he had free time, Hải would practice by gently tapping the ball with his head. By the time he was 7, he would go out every day to play football with friends, sometimes even with older kids.

“Back then, Hải was small like a candy, so short and tiny. He would mostly stand and wait for the ball instead of chasing after it,” his uncle Nguyễn Quang Tuấn fondly recalled the adorable image of his nephew.