Following his strong performance as part of Vietnam’s national football team in 2018, goaltender Dang Van Lam has been highly sought-after by other teams in the region. He has now settled with Muangthong United, one of Thailand’s top teams.
According to VnExpress, the deal was worth US$500,000 (VND11 billion). Lam had been on contract with Hai Phong FC until the end of 2019, and he has become the Thai club’s most expensive goalkeeper ever. The contract is for three years, and can be extended for one further year. It also offers him US$10,000 per month with accommodation and a car.
Lam was born in Russia, and joined the V-League club in 2015, when he helped Hai Phong finish 6th. During the AFF Cup 2018, he played impressively, maintaining a clean sheet and helping Vietnam win the title. At the Asian Cup, held last month, he helped propel Vietnam to the quarterfinals, where they were beaten 1-0 by Japan.
Dan Tri reports that upon leaving, Lam expressed his gratitude to Hai Phong, where he was supported to pursue a professional soccer career as well as be a part of Vietnam’s national team. He thanked the Hai Phong squad’s leadership, colleagues, fans and national coach Park Hang-seo for being a great instructor and motivator.
Lam further discussed Vietnam’s Asian Cup success with the news source in Vietnamese: “We were pleased with the result at the most reputable tournament in Asia. We believed we played on par with Japan in the quarterfinals. We’re trying our best to reach Korea’s level, who is also a strong team in Asia.”
[Photo via Facebook page Muangthong United FC]
