Hoàng Hên shines, Coach Kim Sang Sik gains another solution for Vietnam's midfield.

By netting a brace that assisted Hanoi FC in beating CAHN during V-League round 15, Hoàng Hên earned crucial recognition from Coach Kim Sang Sik, offering him a further tactical choice for Vietnam's midfield lineup.

As Vietnam's national team prepares for a crucial training camp in March, head coach Kim Sang Sik is urgently finalizing the last personnel plans.

The upcoming FIFA Days schedule for the "Golden Star Warriors" includes a friendly match against Bangladesh on March 26th and, notably, the pivotal clash with Malaysia on March 31st, which is the final match of Group F in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

This match is considered decisive for Vietnam's progression ticket, hence all squad considerations are being meticulously weighed by the coaching staff.

During the personnel review process, the Korean coach has numerous options, especially among naturalized players. Besides striker Nguyễn Xuân Son, who is almost certain to be included in the call-up list, another name attracting attention is midfielder Đỗ Hoàng Hên. According to multiple sources, this player has been included in the preliminary list drafted by the coaching staff for the upcoming training camp.

The basis for Hoàng Hên's potential opportunity stems from his stable and increasingly prominent form wearing Hanoi FC's colors. Under the guidance of Coach Harry Kewell, the midfielder born in 1994 has shown clear improvement in the midfield zone. Not only has he enhanced his ability to regulate match tempo, Hoàng Hên also demonstrates sharp tactical thinking, along with neat and effective ball-handling skills. He is gradually becoming a crucial component in the capital team's gameplay operation.

Another noteworthy advantage is the默契 between Hoàng Hên and Xuân Son. Before transferring to Hanoi FC, both had played together for Nam Định FC. Their understanding in movement, coordination, and attacking development could provide a significant advantage for the Vietnam national team if Coach Kim Sang Sik decides to utilize this duo at the national level.

Hoàng Hên himself has repeatedly expressed his desire to wear the national team jersey. This midfielder affirms he is always ready if entrusted by the coaching staff. For him, being part of the Vietnam national team is not only a professional opportunity but also a great honor. Hoàng Hên stated that if called up, he would strive wholeheartedly to contribute to the collective.

However, Hoàng Hên's path back to peak performance over the past year has not been smooth. This midfielder experienced a difficult period due to injury and limited playing opportunities at Nam Định during the latter half of last season. After moving to Hanoi FC, he had to miss the first six matches due to incomplete naturalization procedures.

It was only on October 25, 2025, that Hoàng Hên truly marked his strong return when Hanoi FC visited Bình Dương's ground. The waterlogged pitch made the ball nearly impossible to roll steadily, yet this midfielder displayed finesse in each handling moment. Within just about the first 15 minutes of the match, he created three dangerous chances for teammates with one sharp through pass and two quality corner situations.

Not only orchestrating plays, Hoàng Hên also directly made his mark in decisive moments. Late in the first half, he executed a skillful one-touch cross from the right flank, causing goalkeeper Minh Toàn to handle awkwardly before foreign player Daniel Passira headed in the equalizer. Subsequently, Hoàng Hên himself raised the score to 2-1 with a gentle yet precise penalty kick, scoring his first goal for Hanoi FC.

Impressive performances after just a few matches quickly earned Hoàng Hên the trust of Coach Harry Kewell. The Australian coach once commented succinctly but meaningfully about his pupil: "He is very good."

That was not a casual compliment, as Hoàng Hên is a midfielder who has contributed to over 60 goals in V-League up to this point.

The impressive performance against Công An Hà Nội, the league-leading team, further proves Hoàng Hên's convincing form. The Brazilian-origin star again "made an important impression" on Coach Kim Sang Sik, who is still grappling with the midfield personnel puzzle for Vietnam.

Throughout the past year, Vietnam's national team faced considerable difficulties without Xuân Son, the striker who scored seven goals in the 2024 AFF Cup. Without this scorer in the attack, the team's offensive play lacked sharpness. Most attacking phases were largely spontaneous, relying heavily on quick counter-attacks or long passes over the defensive line.

The biggest issue for Vietnam lies in the creative capacity within the midfield. Among the current midfielders, only Hoàng Đức is seen as a factor capable of creating breakthroughs. However, the linkage between lines remains not truly coherent, causing the team to play disjointedly at times and lack ideas in organizing attacks.

Therefore, Coach Kim Sang Sik is seeking a midfielder who can assume the role of gameplay regulator – someone capable of controlling match tempo and making a difference with a decisive pass. In that context, Hoàng Hên emerges as a promising option.

The Brazilian-origin player possesses good tactical vision and ball-handling skills at a high level. He knows how to move into spaces to receive the ball, opening new attacking avenues for teammates.

Hoàng Hên's touches, one-touch receptions, and passes are executed swiftly, minimalistic yet effective. More importantly, he has the ability to read the match and adjust the playing rhythm appropriately according to each moment.

If called up and utilized correctly, Hoàng Hên could bring new vitality to Vietnam's midfield. Similar to how Xuân Son once elevated the attack, the appearance of the 31-year-old midfielder could become a crucial "piece" helping Coach Kim Sang Sik's tactical machinery operate more smoothly in the decisive match against Malaysia.