In the recently concluded victorious AFF Cup 2018 campaign, Hai was the leader of Vietnam’s solid defense and captain of the national team. He won praise for his reading of the game and leadership, greatly contributing to the success of Vietnam’s three-man defense line up. Hai will continue to captain Vietnam at the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

Vietnamese defender Que Ngoc Hai (L) tries to block a Malaysian striker during AFF's final first leg on December 11, 2018.

Fox Sports has commended Hai’s career transformation, from being a talented but hot-headed and inconsistent player to becoming the leader of Vietnam national football team.

"There has never been any doubt over the versatile defender’s ability but, in recent years, a newfound maturity has seen him start to deliver on his promise," the site wrote.

Five other defenders on the list are Theerathon Bunmathan of Thailand, Majid Hosseini of Iran, Hiroki Sakai of Japan, Ali Al-Bulaihi of Saudi Arabia and Abdelkarim Hassan of Qatar.

At the AFC Asian Cup 2019, Vietnam are placed in group D with Iran, Iraq and Yemen. Vietnam will play their first match of the group stage against Iraq in Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi at 8:30 p.m on January 8.

AFF Cup: Vietnam Airlines increases over 3,700 seats for football fans

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will put into action an extra 3,700 seats on 14 flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to serve southern football fans who want to cheer the national team at the final match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018.

 

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai nominated for Asia’s best footballer award

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai is the only footballer from Vietnam to be nominated for the Best Footballer of Asia Award by Titan Sports and Fox Sports Asia.

 

Vietnam Airlines increases flights to Malaysia for football fans

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will increase six more flights with an additional 1,300 seats to Kuala Lumpur on December 11 to serve football fans who come to cheer the Vietnamese national team in the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 finals.

 

PM sends letter to football team ahead of AFF Cup finals

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 8 sent a letter to encourage the national football team before their participation in the final first leg against Malaysia in the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018.

 

Documentary on Vietnam’s football coach to hit big screens

A documentary about coach Park Hang-seo and his strategies for Vietnamese football is expected to hit cinemas on December 14.

 

Source: VnExpress