Vietnamese player ranks as SEAsian top 10 midfielder

Do Duy Manh in an October match at My Dinh National Stadium (Credit: fourfourtwo.com)

The 19-year-old is said to be not the most technically gifted midfielder, but his excellent reading of the game and ability to dictate play more than compensates for his weaknesses. The star’s perfectly-timed challenges and ball recoveries have been important factors in pushing his Ha Noi T&T club to finish V-League runners-up.

At his best, positioned right in front of the back four, his startlingly mature displays there have belied his tender age. More than capable of holding his own against Vietnam’s best, Manh has quickly became an integral player of Hanoi, playing in 22 games and even managing to chip in with two goals.

At the international level, Manh earned plenty of plaudits when he led his side to a bronze medal in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games in Singapore. He has also booked his ticket to the final round of the AFC U23 Championship, to be held in Qatar next year.

Manh has featured heavily in Vietnam’s 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, starting important games against continental powerhouse Iraq and regional rivals Thailand.

He won the Best V.League 1’s Young Player title and is one of three players nominated for the national Best Midfielder of the Year award in 2015.

The nine other players on the list come from Thailand (four), Singapore (one), Indonesia (one), Malaysia (one), and Australia (two).