Hanoi, April 6, 2025 – Thanh Hoa FC midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan suffered a fractured fibula during a training session and will miss the remainder of the 2024-2025 season. The 31-year-old faces a two-month recovery, potentially ruling him out of Vietnam’s late-May camp for their Asian Cup 2027 final qualifier against Malaysia on June 10—an away clash he’d hoped to feature in.
Tonight, Ngoc Tan appeared in Stand A at Hang Day Stadium, watching his Thanh Hoa teammates fall 3-1 to Hanoi FC in V-League Round 17. Sporting a cast and crutches, he received a tribute from his squad, who held up his No. 34 captain’s jersey before kickoff. Born in Son Tay, Hanoi, Ngoc Tan’s career has been a rollercoaster. At 12, he joined The Cong Viettel’s academy, but when the club dissolved in 2010, he worked as a bricklayer’s assistant for his father. Later, he moved to Hanoi ACB, only for upheaval there to push him to Viettel, then in the Second Division.
In 2015, Ngoc Tan turned pro with Hai Phong, then went on loan to Ho Chi Minh City FC, aiding their V-League promotion. Returning to Hai Phong in 2017, he became a regular. Since joining Thanh Hoa in 2020, he’s been vital, especially under Velizar Popov from 2023. Popov’s high-pressing system elevated Ngoc Tan into a V-League standout, leveraging his stamina and tenacity. From 2022, he’s played 77 of Thanh Hoa’s 89 V-League matches, starting 21 this season—19 for the full 90 minutes.
Ngoc Tan’s breakout earned him a Vietnam call-up in late 2024, where he shone in their ASEAN Cup triumph. He featured in seven of eight matches, logging 481 minutes, with a memorable stoppage-time equalizer in a 1-1 group-stage draw against the Philippines. Coach Kim Sang-sik, in a March 31 Chosun interview, praised his selflessness: “Doan Ngoc Tan prioritizes the team over personal glory. When we lose possession, he’s the first to chase, recover, and distribute. We need stars, but also silent warriors like him.”
In March’s camp, Ngoc Tan played the full 90 in a 2-0 friendly win over Cambodia on March 19 and was an unused substitute in a 5-0 rout of Laos on March 25 in the Asian Cup qualifiers. His injury now casts doubt on Thanh Hoa’s midfield stability and Vietnam’s June plans.
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