Vietnam’s No.1 defensive midfielder reveals shocking injury details

Following the 2-2 draw at PVF-CAND stadium, Doãn Ngọc Tân expressed heartfelt thoughts about his comeback from injury to represent Thanh Hóa.

Returning after more than 7 weeks of treatment for three broken ribs, Ngọc Tân risked playing despite not being fully recovered. The midfielder born in 1994 said he understood the risks but still wanted to help his teammates overcome this challenging period.

“It’s been just over 7 weeks since I fractured my ribs. I tried very hard to come back, even though playing now is somewhat risky. But I want to stand with my brothers and get through this tough time. I accept the risks to help Thanh Hóa successfully avoid relegation,” Ngọc Tân shared.

Not only talking about himself, the former Vietnam national team player also praised the spirit of the Thanh Hóa squad. “Honestly, both teams fought hard today. Thanh Hóa club is facing many difficulties now, so I highly appreciate the whole team’s spirit. Even when trailing 2-1, the players still fought back to earn a point, which is truly admirable,” he said.

According to Ngọc Tân, the recent FIFA break helped the team have more time to review and fix their shortcomings. He believes Thanh Hóa will gradually stabilize in the upcoming journey: “We are trying to accumulate points step by step, with the immediate goal of avoiding relegation. The whole team hopes for nothing more than to get through this season together.”

Earlier, at the end of August 2025, Doãn Ngọc Tân suffered a severe injury in the match against Hà Tĩnh and had to undergo surgery, with an expected recovery time of 2–3 months. His earlier-than-expected return shows the strong will and dedication of an irreplaceable key player.

In the past two seasons, Doãn Ngọc Tân has been a crucial factor in helping Thanh Hóa win two consecutive National Cup titles. At the end of 2024, he was first called up to the Vietnam national team and played a major role in the AFF Cup victory, participating in seven out of eight matches for a total of 481 minutes. His early return will surely boost Thanh Hóa’s morale in the upcoming relegation battle.