Topstriker Le Cong Vinh will join Portugal ’s Leixoes on a short-term loan contract.
T&T Hanoi club chairman Do Quang Hien said Vinh will fulfil his V-League commitments before he leave for Portugal on August 16 in time for the first round of the Portuguese Super Liga.
Under the deal between T&T and Leixoes, which is expected to be signed on August 6, Leixoes will pay Vinh’s salary and cover accommodation and travel costs from September 1 to December 31, Hien said.
“It’s great opportunity for Vinh. He will be the first Vietnamese footballer to play in an European premier league.
“The contract was assisted by Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto.”
Vinh, 24, set a record four-year contract transfer fee of 400,000 USD when he moved from Song Lam Nghe An to T&T last year.
The central Nghe An-born striker said it is a great chance for him and Vietnam football to play in a European league.
“Playing in an European league is an historic opportunity and a dream for me. I’ll take the chance to improve my skills and learn from the Portuguese,” said Vinh. Leixoes were with sixth in Super Liga in the 2008-09 season with 12 wins, nine draws and nine losses. They were coached by Calisto in 1990-91 and 93-94.
Vinh took the Gold Ball as the best footballer in 2004-05-07 but has not been the premier championship’s top scorer. He is fondly remembered for his dramatic late goal which gave Vietnam the AFF Suzuki Cup from arch rivals Thailand last December.
The few Vietnamese players to play abroad have had limited success.
In 1995, Le Huynh Duc played on loan for a year at Chinese Lifan. With help from Calisto, who coached Long An in 2001-07, the club sent striker Nguyen Viet Thang to train with a second division team in Portugal .
Midfielder Luong Trung Tuan, who played for defunct-Sai Gon Port, was loaned to a Thai League club./.
T&T Hanoi club chairman Do Quang Hien said Vinh will fulfil his V-League commitments before he leave for Portugal on August 16 in time for the first round of the Portuguese Super Liga.
Under the deal between T&T and Leixoes, which is expected to be signed on August 6, Leixoes will pay Vinh’s salary and cover accommodation and travel costs from September 1 to December 31, Hien said.
“It’s great opportunity for Vinh. He will be the first Vietnamese footballer to play in an European premier league.
“The contract was assisted by Vietnam coach Henrique Calisto.”
Vinh, 24, set a record four-year contract transfer fee of 400,000 USD when he moved from Song Lam Nghe An to T&T last year.
The central Nghe An-born striker said it is a great chance for him and Vietnam football to play in a European league.
“Playing in an European league is an historic opportunity and a dream for me. I’ll take the chance to improve my skills and learn from the Portuguese,” said Vinh. Leixoes were with sixth in Super Liga in the 2008-09 season with 12 wins, nine draws and nine losses. They were coached by Calisto in 1990-91 and 93-94.
Vinh took the Gold Ball as the best footballer in 2004-05-07 but has not been the premier championship’s top scorer. He is fondly remembered for his dramatic late goal which gave Vietnam the AFF Suzuki Cup from arch rivals Thailand last December.
The few Vietnamese players to play abroad have had limited success.
In 1995, Le Huynh Duc played on loan for a year at Chinese Lifan. With help from Calisto, who coached Long An in 2001-07, the club sent striker Nguyen Viet Thang to train with a second division team in Portugal .
Midfielder Luong Trung Tuan, who played for defunct-Sai Gon Port, was loaned to a Thai League club./.
