The number one star of Vietnam U23 almost quit football

Few know that the current top star of Vietnam U23, striker Đình Bắc, nearly gave up football after being dropped from the Sông Lam Nghệ An academy at age 14.

Young striker Đình Bắc recently shared an emotional story about overcoming hardships to pursue a professional football career—a path not paved with roses but driven by determination, resilience, and family love.

At 14, Đình Bắc was a talented player at the Sông Lam Nghệ An academy. After four years of training, he received the news of being cut. “At that time, I was very sad, and so were my parents. My peers were allowed to stay, but I had to leave. The coaches said my physique was too small to develop,” Đình Bắc recalled.

Leaving his dream behind, the young man returned home and focused on his studies. For two years, he believed his football journey was over. But it was his mother, silently supporting every step, who encouraged him. Not only did she help with enrollment paperwork, but she also persistently contacted coaches in Quảng Nam, giving Đình Bắc a chance to try out. “Fortunately, the coaches in Quảng Nam selected me. That’s when I decided to return to football,” he said.

Starting from the Quảng Nam platform, Đình Bắc gradually proved his abilities. Although his physique was not outstanding, his technique, agility, and determination compensated. He quickly matured and was called up to the national team at just 19 years old, marking a major turning point in his career.

Đình Bắc’s most recent impressive achievement was winning the U23 Southeast Asia Championship with Vietnam U23, also securing a ticket to the U23 Asian Championship finals. For him, this was a sweet reward after months of persistence and never giving up.

Đình Bắc’s story not only inspires young players facing challenges but also clearly demonstrates that willpower and perseverance can reopen doors once thought closed. From a boy rejected for being “too small,” Đình Bắc is now becoming a new hope for Vietnamese football.