Nam Dinh's 2.06m striker Kyle Hudlin: V-League goalkeeper has a 'nightmare'

Tall as Bui Hoang Viet Anh is, he is still 'tiny' when standing next to Kyle Hudlin.

Kyle Hudlin – a 2.06 m tall rookie of Nam Dinh Club – had an impressive debut in the 2024-2025 National Super Cup match at Thien Truong Stadium on the evening of August 9, but still could not help his team avoid a 2-3 defeat against Hanoi Police Club (CAHN).

In the 53rd minute, when they were trailing 0-1, coach Vu Hong Viet decided to send in Hudlin - the most eye-catching contract of the summer transfer period. Just one minute later, the English striker immediately left his mark when he jumped high to head the ball dangerously from Van Vi's cross, equalizing the score 1-1. With his superior height, long stride and clever positioning, Hudlin immediately became the center of attention on the field, forcing the CAHN defenders to change their marking style.

The tallest striker in V-League history: Makes every opponent look small when standing next to him

Striker Kyle Hudlin of Nam Dinh Club causes a "fever" because of his unprecedented height in tournaments in Vietnam - PHOTO: MINH TU

Kyle Hudlin scored 2 goals on his debut for Nam Dinh FC in a domestic match. He previously scored in a friendly tour - PHOTO: MINH TU

However, CAHN still maintained a sharp counter-attacking game. In the third minute of extra time, Leonardo Artur soloed, raising the score to 2-1. In the eighth minute of extra time, Nguyen Dinh Bac fired a long-range shot that hit the defender's leg, sealing a 3-2 victory for the away team. In between these two goals, Hudlin scored another goal from the 11m mark after Hugo Gomes fouled him, completing his double on his debut day for domestic audiences.

Bui Hoang Viet Anh (shirt number 68) is 1.86 m tall but still looks very 'small' when standing next to Kyle - PHOTO: MINH TU

CAHN FC's central defender Tran Dinh Trong admitted: "Kyle Hudlin is too tall! For Vietnamese players or even foreign players in the current V-League, he is superior in stature. With a height of over 2m, Hudlin makes it very difficult for us to defend high balls. As everyone can see, despite preparing plans to minimize his strengths, Hanoi Police FC still let Hudlin score a goal from a header just about a minute after entering the field. This will truly be a notable name in the V-League this season," Dinh Trong shared.

Hudlin played for Huddersfield Town in the Championship and Newport County in League Two, scoring six goals in 27 games last season. In the world's tallest male footballers' rankings for 2022, he is ranked sixth, just 4cm behind the tallest player, goalkeeper Simon Bloch Jorgensen (Germany). As a striker, Hudlin is the second tallest in the world, after Scotland's Paul Miller (2.08 m).

Giant rookie – 'nightmare' for V-League goalkeepers

With his outstanding physique and fearsome aerial skills, Hudlin promises to be a constant threat to every goal in the V-League this season. His jumping moves are almost impossible to compete with, even foreign defenders over 1.85 m tall.

He is also the tallest player in V-League history when playing in the upcoming tournament. The difference in physique compared to the average level gives him an absolute advantage in aerial duels, turning every cross or free kick into a dangerous opportunity. Hudlin's presence forces every defender in V-League to build their own defensive plan to respond.

Nguyen Filip (shirt number 1) is over 1.9 m tall but still has a hard time with Kyle - PHOTO: MINH TU

Not to mention, in the recent Super Cup match, the 1.91 m tall Vietnamese goalkeeper of CAHN - Nguyen Filip - who is one of the tallest goalkeepers in the V-League, still had many difficulties when facing Hudlin. Right in the first touch, Hudlin jumped high and headed the ball dangerously, leaving Filip no time to react. During the remaining time, every time the ball was directed towards Hudlin, Filip had to proactively rush out or coordinate with the central defenders to limit the finishing ability of this "giant", showing that the pressure that the new player of Nam Dinh created was not small.

With just a light jump, Kyle is already half a body taller than many other players - PHOTO: MINH TU

Nam Dinh's possession of Hudlin opens up many options for attacking the ball in the air, from crosses, direct free kicks to set pieces. If he continues to maintain his scoring performance as in the friendly matches and the National Super Cup, the English "giant" can completely become the "nemesis" of every goalkeeper in the tournament.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tien-dao-206-m-kyle-hudlin-cua-nam-dinh-ac-mong-cua-cac-thu-mon-v-league-185250810111613858.htm