Nguyen Van Toan, a footballer who rose through the ranks of Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s youth academy, recently shared his biggest regret during an appearance on the talk show Life to Reach the Top, aired by VnExpress on September 24. Despite a successful career, his deepest disappointment is not having won the V-League championship with Hoang Anh Gia Lai.
In the 40-minute conversation with host Huyen Trang, Toan reflected on his football journey, especially his time at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, where he started his career and matured as a professional player. Born in 1996, Toan joined the Hoang Anh Gia Lai-Arsenal JMG Academy in 2007. His talent gained national attention when he played for Vietnam’s U19 team in 2013. By 2015, Toan made his V-League debut and spent eight seasons with Hoang Anh Gia Lai, alongside notable teammates such as Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, and Xuan Truong. However, despite their best efforts, Hoang Anh Gia Lai never secured a V-League title during his time at the club.
Reflecting on his career, Toan shared, “Despite many happy moments and a fulfilling life, my biggest regret is not winning the V-League with Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Winning the biggest football championship in Vietnam has always been a tough challenge. I’ve often thought about lifting the trophy and how it would feel, but sadly, we didn’t achieve that.”
After several ups and downs in domestic football, Toan left Hoang Anh Gia Lai in 2023 for a new chapter in his career, joining Seoul E-Land FC in South Korea’s K-League 2. There, he became the Vietnamese player with the most appearances in the league. However, Toan admitted that he felt his performance during his time in Korea was not as successful as he had hoped.
Following his stint abroad, Toan returned to Vietnam, signing with Nam Dinh FC. In the 2023-2024 season, he helped Nam Dinh secure their first-ever V-League title. “Achieving a championship with Nam Dinh is a proud milestone in my career, a reward after nearly a decade of playing professionally,” Toan said.
Toan further reflected on his early football years, recalling his training from the age of eight at Hoang Anh Gia Lai. “If I hadn’t won the V-League, it would feel like a failure after all those years of training at Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Now, I’m enjoying the feeling of being a reigning champion,” he added with a smile.
The V-League title with Nam Dinh is a significant achievement in Toan’s career, along with other highlights such as his debut at the SEA Games in 2015 in Singapore and being part of the U23 team that finished as runners-up at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in Changzhou, China.
Looking to the future, Toan expressed hopes for more memorable experiences with the national team and aspirations to leave a lasting impression on fans. “I dream of one day competing on the world stage, perhaps at the World Cup, and achieving something great for Vietnamese football fans,” he said.
Beyond his football career, Toan also discussed his personal life and his passion for business during the talk show. He emphasized that his family provides him with vital support, helping him overcome the challenges of his career. Additionally, Toan revealed that his fashion business is his second passion after football. “It’s something I love doing. I’m not focused on profit or loss. What matters most to me is that people know and use the products I create—that’s my definition of success,” he shared.
Life to Reach the Top, produced weekly by VnExpress, features interviews with prominent figures in Vietnamese sports who share their journeys to success. Sponsored by Dragon Capital Vietnam, the program aims to inspire young people to pursue their dreams and contribute to societal development.
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