At the contract signing on July in Ho Chi Minh City, the 24-year-old Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) striker said it was a turning point in his footballing career.
“I am very happy to wear the jersey of Belgium’s Sint-Truidense club”, said Phuong, adding that he would train hard in order to have an opportunity to play on the field.”
Phuong was part of the Vietnamese national team that won the ASEAN football tournament in 2018 and the Vietnam U-23 team that finished second at the U-23 Asian Cup in the same year.
Born in the central province of Nghe An, Phuong was one of the first students at HAGL’s football academy and has played for the club up until now, except for a brief stints at Japan’s Mito Hollyhock and the Republic of Korean’s Incheon United under similar loan deals.
At Sint-Truidense, Phuong will wear the jersey with the number 15.
HAGL Chairman Doan Nguyen Duc said that he had declined offers from many clubs including from the Republic of Korea, Japan and some other European clubs to take Phuong to Belgium.
He added that he would always wholeheartedly support Phuong so that the Vietnamese star player could fulfil his potential.
For his part, Sint-Truidense’s CEO Takayuki Tateishi stated that the club recognised Phuong’s ability when watching the match between Vietnam and Japan, adding that he highly appreciates Phuong’s desire to challenge himself in a higher-level football environment.
Sint-Truidense currently play in Belgian’s top-league tournament First Division A and finished seventh during the 2018-2019 season.
