Hanoi, 9 July, 2025 – Vietnam national team and Hanoi Police FC goalkeeper Nguyen Filip has made bold remarks about the mindset and professionalism of Vietnamese footballers, suggesting that many lack the ambition to pursue careers abroad.
Speaking on the At The Top podcast hosted by the YouTube channel 28Unique, Nguyen Filip compared the mentality of players in the Czech Republic, where he previously lived, to those in Vietnam. “When I was in the Czech Republic, every player wanted to go abroad and play in top leagues. But in Vietnam, it’s different. Most players prefer to stay and play domestically. From what I’ve seen, only around five players truly want to go overseas. That was a small culture shock for me,” Filip said.
The goalkeeper, who was born and raised in the Czech Republic, explained that he understands the reasons behind this mindset. “Players here have everything they need. They don’t need to learn a new language if they stay in Vietnam. They’re big stars with stable income. I understand why some may feel uncomfortable with what I said, but I have no intention of offending anyone. My comments come from a desire to see Vietnamese football grow,” he clarified.
Filip also commented on what he sees as a resistance to criticism among local players. “I’ve noticed that many Vietnamese, not just footballers, don’t like being criticized or having their mistakes pointed out. One time, I yelled at a teammate during a match. In Europe, that’s normal. But here, some players got upset, and we argued. I told them, ‘If you don’t want to improve, that’s up to you. Just do your job during the match.’ Sometimes they pretend not to hear me.”
He added, “No one likes to be criticized, including me. But if you want to be the best, you have to listen. After every game, I try to review my mistakes and improve. Even if we win 1-0, and people say I played well, if I know I made mistakes, I won’t be satisfied.”
Nguyen Filip believes that the lack of ambition is largely due to the environment surrounding the players. “When people treat you like a star—even if it’s only in Vietnam—you start to believe you’re a big name. But once you leave Vietnam, no one knows who you are,” he said.
Despite his criticism, Filip praised a few teammates who show a strong desire to improve. “There are three players I admire for their professionalism: Tuan Hai, Pham Minh Phuc, and goalkeeper Do Sy Huy. For me, the most professional Vietnamese player is Tuan Hai. I’ve seen how he trains and behaves at both club and national level. He’s learning English because he wants to go abroad. I truly admire his dedication,” Filip concluded.
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