Coach praises the tallest defender in Vietnam's national team history after his 100th-minute goal

Đinh Quang Kiệt earned praise from Coach Lê Quang Trãi following his crucial goal that allowed HAGL to draw level.

Known as the tallest defender in Vietnam’s national team history, Đinh Quang Kiệt just scored his first goal in the V-League. This time, the 1.95m tall defender’s goal was not a header but came from a quick run into the penalty area and a sharp finish. The goal in the 10th minute of stoppage time helped HAGL secure a precious point against Đà Nẵng in the 11th round of the V-League.

Speaking about Đinh Quang Kiệt’s golden goal, HAGL’s head coach Lê Quang Trãi shared: "Đinh Quang Kiệt’s recent goalcan be seen as the result of our joint efforts. He has been working closely with us.

According to the coaching staff’s analysis, he possesses great height and I advised Quang Kiệt to fully utilize his physique while also exploiting the open spaces on the field. I hope Quang Kiệt will continue to develop his abilities and contribute greatly to the national team and the U23 Vietnam squad in the near future.

Until now, HAGL’s academy has focused on training players’ tactical thinking rather than physical attributes, aiming for a style based on quick passing and technique. Currently, HAGL has players with good physiques like Đinh Quang Kiệt and goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên. We are fortunate to have such players. Hopefully, these two will contribute to both the Vietnam national team and U23 team."

In this latest training camp, U23 Vietnam features two "towers" from HAGL. Coach Kim Sang Sik called up two players with impressive height: goalkeeper Trần Trung Kiên (1.91m) and defender Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.95m). This is the first time in U23 Vietnam’s history that two players taller than 1.9m have been called up simultaneously.

The young talent from HAGL is known as the tallest defender in Vietnam’s national team when he was summoned to the senior team at the end of August. Now, Đinh Quang Kiệt has the chance to secure a starting position in the U23 team as he regularly plays in the V-League and recently scored his first goal.

Related article

The tallest defender in Vietnam’s national team history is a strong candidate for a starting spot for one reason Đinh Quang Kiệt might be the main choice in the three-defender formation of U23 Vietnam at SEA Games 33. See more