Hanoi, 1 Sep 2026 – Midfielder Nghiem Xuan Tu has officially announced his retirement from professional football, bringing an end to a 14-season career filled with memorable achievements in the V.League 1 and National Cup.
Born in 1988, Xuan Tu revealed in his farewell message that football had been his passion since childhood. Inspired by his father, former footballer Nghiem Xuan Manh, he grew up dreaming of one day becoming a professional player himself.
His route into professional football, however, was far from conventional. Unlike many players who enter the professional system at a young age, Xuan Tu did not begin his professional career until he was 25 years old.
Despite the late start, he went on to establish himself as one of the most productive creative players in Vietnamese football.
Over 14 seasons, Xuan Tu made 270 official appearances, scoring 21 goals and providing 67 assists. His performances also earned him selection in the V.League Team of the Season in 2016 and 2018.
His career included an impressive collection of domestic honours. Xuan Tu won both the National Cup and National Super Cup in 2016, while also collecting a V.League runners-up medal in 2024 and finishing second in the National Cup in 2022.
He also secured V.League third-place finishes in 2015, 2019 and 2022, as well as National Cup bronze medals in 2023 and 2025.
One of the defining achievements of Xuan Tu’s career came during the 2018 V.League season, when he registered a remarkable 17 assists, setting a competition record.
Renowned for his creativity and ability to provide the final pass, he was also among the league’s leading assist providers in 2016 and 2018. A year later, he received the award for the Best Goal of the 2019 V.League season.
However, reflecting on his career, Xuan Tu stressed that the statistics and trophies were not what he valued most.
For the midfielder, the coaches, teammates, friends and supporters who accompanied him throughout his journey ultimately meant more than any individual record or honour.
“From today, I will no longer walk onto the pitch as a professional footballer,” Nghiem Xuan Tu said in his farewell message.
Xuan Tu admitted there was inevitably some regret as he brought his playing days to an end, but said his overwhelming emotions were those of gratitude and pride.
Retirement will now open another chapter in his life, with the former midfielder preparing to pursue new opportunities, challenges and ambitions away from professional playing.
After 14 seasons, 270 competitive appearances and a journey that began with a childhood dream of following in his father’s footsteps, Nghiem Xuan Tu has officially brought the curtain down on his professional football career and is ready to embark on a new path.
VSN/RPT
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