HAGL has the tallest defense in V-League: 4 players over 1.9 m

HAGL's tall defenders

High balls used to be a fear for HAGL, especially in the period 2015 - 2020, when the mountain town team had an unideal average height.

For example, HAGL JMG’s first and second batches had many quality midfielders and strikers, but only Tran Huu Dong Trieu stood out in the central defenders. Dong Trieu was only 1.7 m tall, so he was quickly overshadowed by the taller strikers in the V-League. Later, Dong Trieu moved up to play defensive midfielder, while the central defender position was reserved for taller foreign players.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

However, over time, HAGL's height and defensive skills have gradually improved. The two best players of HAGL last season, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien and center back Pham Ly Duc, both played in defense. Trung Kien is 1.91 m tall, the most impressive in the V-League. Thanks to his height and long arms, Trung Kien is very good at catching high balls or blocking. Meanwhile, Ly Duc is also 1.82 m tall, so he plays bravely and effectively in aerial battles.

This season, HAGL no longer has Ly Duc (who has moved to Hanoi Police Club), but the defense of the mountain town team will have 4 other "poles". That is central defender Dinh Quang Kiet, who is 1.95 m tall, along with two central defenders Khevin Rodrigo (1.92 m tall) and Jairo Rodrigues (1.9 m tall).

Thus, HAGL will have 4 players over 1.9 m tall in defense including goalkeeper Trung Kien and three central defenders Quang Kiet, Rodrigo, Jairo.

Dinh Quang Kiet was promoted to the first team by coach Le Quang Trai and technical director Vu Tien Thanh in the second phase of the 2024 - 2025 V-League. Despite his impressive height of 1.95 m, Dinh Quang Kiet still has many limitations. The HAGL center back is only 18 years old, the youngest among the U.23 Vietnam defense squad preparing for the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament.

Quang Kiet used to play for Vietnam U.16 and U.18, however, he did not leave much of an impression in terms of defensive ability (blocking, marking, positioning, one-on-one competition...). Quang Kiet mainly stands out for his "tall" physique, and in some matches he was promoted to play as a striker in previous youth teams.

Center back Rodrigo has an ideal height, good tackling and blocking ability. He and Jairo (center back who played for HAGL last season) are expected to form a solid wall to protect goalkeeper Trung Kien's goal.

With heavy "fortresses" in defense, HAGL is ready for a counter-attacking philosophy in V-League 2025 - 2026.