Get ready for some exciting football action! Nguyen Cong Phuong, Vietnam’s top striker, is taking his talent to the Jupiler Pro League, Belgium’s premier football league. He’ll be playing for Sint-Truiden on a one-year loan starting in the upcoming 2019-20 season.
The deal was finalized in Ho Chi Minh City, with Phuong’s Vietnamese club, Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), and Sint-Truiden shaking hands on the agreement.
The future of this move is still up in the air. The contract could be extended for another year depending on how well Phuong performs.
Phuong’s new salary is a secret, but it’s said to be quite hefty. Doan Nguyen Duc, the owner of HAGL, revealed that Phuong’s monthly pay is equivalent to the annual income of a Vietnamese player in the domestic league.
For some context, Phuong was earning around $10,000 a month at his previous club, Incheon United in South Korea. The average Vietnamese player in the V-League 1, however, only makes between $645 and $850 per month.
Phuong is set to join his new teammates in Belgium this weekend. He’ll be sporting jersey number 15 as he takes the field for the first time on July 27th, when Sint-Truiden kicks off their new season.
A Look at Sint-Truiden
Sint-Truiden, a club steeped in history, was founded in 1924 and calls the Stayen stadium, which has a capacity of 14,600 spectators, home. Their most successful season was in 1965-66, when they finished in second place.
In recent years, the club has undergone a transformation. Tokyo-based Internet company DMM.com took full ownership of Sint-Truiden in 2017.
Leading the team is Marc Brys, a seasoned Belgian footballer, who hopes to guide the team to even greater heights.
Sint-Truiden finished their last season in a respectable seventh place out of 16 teams in the Jupiler Pro League. The club earned 47 points after 30 matches.
The Rise of a Vietnamese Star
Phuong is a rising star in the world of football. He was named Vietnam’s Young Player of the Year in 2015 and has consistently impressed with his skills on the field.
His journey began at the age of 18, when he secured second place at the 2013 AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Under-19 Youth Championship.
He continued his impressive climb, playing a key role in Vietnam’s second-place finish at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship. He was also part of the victorious team at the 2018 AFF Cup, a significant achievement for the Vietnamese national squad.
Phuong’s experience abroad has been varied. He spent a year with Japan’s Mito Hollyhock in 2016, followed by a four-month stint with Incheon United in 2019.
Now, with his move to Sint-Truiden, Phuong has a chance to prove himself in one of Europe’s top leagues. We’re all excited to see what he can do!
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