OFFICIAL: Former World Cup player retires from Vietnam national team

Midfielder Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung has chosen to end her playing career with the Vietnam national team and move into coaching.

According to information from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), midfielder Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung has officially retired from her playing career with the national team and decided to transition into coaching duties.

Tuyết Dung is one of the greatest icons in Vietnamese women's football, with a career full of remarkable achievements and persistent dedication. She earned 131 caps for the national team, a record for a Vietnamese female player, scoring 53 goals.

Over more than a decade of competition, the 1993-born star significantly contributed to the Vietnam women's team winning 4 SEA Games gold medals, 2 AFF Cup titles, and memorable feats like reaching the 2022 Asian Cup quarterfinals and participating in the 2023 Women's World Cup for the first time.

At club level, she has won national league and cup championships, establishing herself as a top domestic talent. Her two Vietnamese Golden Ball awards clearly demonstrate her skill, ambition, and relentless fighting spirit as a midfielder from Hà Nam.

Moreover, Tuyết Dung is regarded as one of the most versatile midfielders in the history of Vietnamese women's football. The Phong Phú Hà Nam player is proficient with both feet, as proven by her two spectacular goals against Malaysia at the 2015 AFF Women's Cup.

In that match, Tuyết Dung amazed the world by scoring twice directly from corner kicks, showcasing her diverse finishing ability with both feet.

Not only taking corner kicks, the Hà Nam midfielder was also frequently trusted to take direct free kicks, scoring multiple times from such opportunities. With her skillful left foot and strong stamina, Tuyết Dung consistently troubled opposing defenses with her technical moves, delicate ball control, and powerful sprints down the left wing, where she left a distinctive mark.

During the training camp preparing for SEA Games 33, besides Tuyết Dung's absence, coach Mai Đức Chung also did not call up key players such as Huỳnh Như and Hải Yến, giving chances to younger players. This is seen as a sign of a generational transition as the Vietnam women's team aims for success in upcoming campaigns.

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