Vietnamese goalkeeper may have to play as a striker

Thanh Hóa goalkeeper Trịnh Xuân Hoàng surprised by expressing desire to play in forward position amid team's shortage of players.

In the context of severe depletion of personnel, Đông Á Thanh Hóa Club is witnessing a rare story: goalkeeper Trịnh Xuân Hoàng expressed desire to play as a striker. Not just a makeshift solution, this is also the genuine aspiration of the Vietnamese national team's goalkeeper.

According to coaching staff, this idea is not new. Goalkeeper coach Trương Mạnh Hà revealed: “Trịnh Xuân Hoàng trained in striker position for some time when Thanh Hóa team was severely short of players. He wants to play as a forward.”During difficult period, when team even lacked sufficient players to compete, experimenting with alternative solutions became necessary consideration.

In reality, Đông Á Thanh Hóa once registered only 17 players, many not in optimal physical condition. Given that situation, coach Mai Xuân Hợp had Xuân Hoàng wear player training gear, warm up in striker position as preparation. However, official playing opportunity hasn't arrived for this goalkeeper.

In another development, during postponed match with Công an Hà Nội Club, coach Mai Xuân Hợp surprised by deploying goalkeeper Y Êli Niê as striker. This indicates possibility Xuân Hoàng could be tested in similar position, especially as team still faces personnel issues.

Xuân Hoàng himself clearly expressed readiness to contribute: “I am always ready to play any position if team needs me. This is time hometown team faces many difficulties. If not starting as goalkeeper and must play as striker, I am prepared.”This spirit makes story more special, as goalkeeper willing to leave safe zone to support team in different way.

Not just words, Xuân Hoàng surprised teammates by scoring 6 goals in internal training match, with various finishing techniques using both feet and headers. Nickname “Thanh's Haaland” originated from this. In context where foreign striker Gordon Rimario has left team, door for “crazy experiment” could open, and perhaps fans will soon witness Trịnh Xuân Hoàng appearing in attack wearing Thanh Hóa jersey.

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