Indonesia, 17 July 2025 – Head coach Kim Sang Sik has been forced to make a last-minute change to the Vietnam U23 squad for the upcoming 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Championship after key forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan sustained an injury during training.
The incident occurred during an evening training session on July 16, when Thanh Nhan landed awkwardly following a challenge and was unable to continue. On the morning of July 17, the player was taken to the hospital for an MRI scan, which revealed damage to the ligament in his left ankle. The medical team confirmed that the 22-year-old will not recover in time to participate in the tournament.
This development prompted Coach Kim Sang Sik to call up midfielder Le Van Thuan as a replacement. The Korean tactician also offered words of encouragement to Thanh Nhan, advising him to return home for the best possible recovery and rehabilitation.
Le Van Thuan, 18, is considered one of the brightest young prospects in Vietnamese football. He was promoted to the first team of Thanh Hoa during the 2024/25 V.League 1 season, where he made an impressive impact with 4 goals and 2 assists in 16 appearances. His performances earned him the “Best Young Player of the Season” award for V.League 2024/25.
Van Thuan is expected to arrive in Jakarta on July 18 to join the U23 Vietnam squad ahead of their opening match against U23 Laos on July 19. Vietnam is in Group B alongside Laos and Cambodia.
Coach Kim Sang Sik continues to emphasize a focused and disciplined approach as Vietnam aims to defend their back-to-back titles won in 2022 and 2023. Despite this setback, the team remains determined to showcase their strength and depth at the regional tournament.
Hong Phuc – Lam Van
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