1. Overview
Hoàng Vũ Samson (born Samson Kayode Olaleye on October 6, 1988) is a Nigerian-born professional footballer who was naturalized as a Vietnamese citizen in 2013. Primarily playing as a striker, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in V.League 1 history. He holds the record as the V.League 1's all-time leading goal scorer, having surpassed 200 goals, and currently plays for Quảng Nam. His career in Vietnam is marked by prolific goal-scoring, multiple league titles, and his unique status as a naturalized player who has significantly impacted Vietnamese football.
2. Early Life and Background
Hoàng Vũ Samson was born Samson Kayode Olaleye on October 6, 1988, in Lagos, Nigeria. Details of his early life before his professional football career are limited, but he began his football journey in Vietnam in 2007.
3. Career
Hoàng Vũ Samson's career has been characterized by significant success in Vietnamese football, a brief but complicated attempt to play in Europe, and a return to Vietnam where he became a record-breaking striker.
3.1. Early Career in Vietnam
Samson began his professional career in Vietnam in 2007, joining Than Quảng Ninh in the Vietnamese First Division. In his two years at the club, he scored 15 goals. In 2009, he moved to Đồng Tháp, which had been promoted to the V.League 1. At Đồng Tháp, he quickly established himself as one of the most prominent foreign players in Vietnam. During the 2011 season, he was particularly prolific, scoring 17 goals in just 18 matches. Overall, he netted 43 goals in 49 appearances for Đồng Tháp.
3.2. European Transfer Attempt and Contract Dispute
In August 2011, after his contract with Đồng Tháp was liquidated prematurely due to a hand injury, Samson moved to Atlético Madrid B on a free transfer. He was subsequently loaned to Braga in Portugal because Atlético Madrid B had exhausted its quota for non-EU players. However, Samson did not make any appearances for either Atlético Madrid B or Braga.
His European aspirations were complicated by a contract dispute with Hà Nội T&T (now Hà Nội FC). Hà Nội T&T claimed that Samson had previously signed a memorandum of understanding with them, which included a partial transfer fee and a compensation clause for any breach. Upon learning of his move to Atlético Madrid, Hà Nội T&T submitted a request to the VFF to withhold his International Transfer Certificate (ITC). Discussions between Samson and Hà Nội T&T confirmed the legality of their agreement. Hà Nội T&T demanded a compensation fee of 2.00 M USD for breaking the contract. Unable to meet this financial demand, Samson abandoned his European dream and agreed to return to play for Hà Nội T&T for the 2012 season.
3.3. Naturalization and V.League Stardom
Following his return to Vietnam, Samson joined Hà Nội T&T for the 2012 season. In his first year, he scored 14 goals, helping the team finish as V.League 1 runner-up and Vietnamese Cup runner-up. In the 2013 season, he was the V.League 1 top scorer with 17 goals, sharing the title with teammate Gonzalo Marronkle, and played a crucial role in Hà Nội T&T's V.League championship victory. He continued his goal-scoring prowess in the 2014 season, again becoming the V.League 1 top scorer with 24 goals.
A significant turning point in his career came in October 2013 when, after residing in Vietnam for five years, Samson was naturalized as a Vietnamese citizen. This allowed him to be registered as a domestic player in the V.League, which was a major advantage for his club. He continued to be a key player for Hà Nội FC, contributing to their V.League 1 championships in 2016 and 2018.
3.4. Career Abroad and Later Vietnamese Clubs
At the end of 2017, Samson moved abroad again, joining Buriram United in Thailand on December 29, 2017. This transfer was facilitated by a new rule in the top two divisions of Thai football allowing teams to register a foreign player of ASEAN origin. However, his stint at Buriram United was short-lived. He made only two league appearances and missed a penalty in his debut match in the Thai Super Cup. Buriram United's chairman, Newin Chidchob, known for his high expectations of foreign players, terminated Samson's contract on March 10, 2018.
Samson promptly returned to Hà Nội FC on March 11, 2018, where coach Chu Đình Nghiêm continued to place trust in him. In the 2018-19 season, he scored 21 goals for the club. In 2019, he was loaned to Quảng Nam, where he scored 7 goals in 12 matches.
From the 2020 season, Samson moved to Đông Á Thanh Hóa, contributing 9 goals in 22 matches until March 2021. On October 19, 2021, he joined his sixth Vietnamese club, Hồ Chí Minh City FC. In September 2023, Samson returned to Quảng Nam, where he currently plays.
4. Playing Style and Statistics
Hoàng Vũ Samson is primarily known as a powerful and prolific striker. His career is defined by his exceptional goal-scoring ability, consistent performance in front of goal, and his physical presence in the attacking third. He holds the prestigious record as the V.League 1's all-time leading scorer, having scored 217 goals, making him the first player to reach the 200-goal milestone in the league's history.
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | International Cup | Others | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Than Quảng Ninh | 2008 | V.League 2 | 22 | 15 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 22 | 15 |
| Đồng Tháp | 2009 | V.League 1 | 16 | 13 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 17 | 13 |
| 2010 | V.League 1 | 15 | 13 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 16 | 13 | |
| 2011 | V.League 1 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 19 | 17 | |
| Total | 49 | 43 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 52 | 43 | ||
| Atlético Madrid B | 2010-11 | Segunda División B | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Braga (loan) | 2010-11 | Primeira Liga | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Hà Nội T&T | 2012 | V.League 1 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 28 | 14 |
| 2013 | V.League 1 | 21 | 17 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 23 | 18 | |
| 2014 | V.League 1 | 19 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 30 | 27 | |
| 2015 | V.League 1 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 25 | 21 | |
| 2016 | V.League 1 | 23 | 15 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 33 | 19 | |
| 2017 | V.League 1 | 22 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 12 | |
| Total | 128 | 96 | 19 | 10 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 164 | 111 | ||
| Buriram United | 2018 | Thai League 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Hà Nội | 2018 | V.League 1 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 18 |
| 2019 | V.League 1 | 12 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 9 | |
| Total | 25 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 39 | 27 | ||
| Quảng Nam (loan) | 2019 | V.League 1 | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 7 |
| Total | 12 | 7 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 14 | 7 | ||
| Đông Á Thanh Hóa | 2020 | V.League 1 | 17 | 6 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 19 | 7 |
| 2021 | V.League 1 | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 5 | 3 | |
| Total | 22 | 9 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 10 | ||
| Hồ Chí Minh City FC | 2022 | V.League 1 | 21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 21 | 5 |
| 2023 | V.League 1 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 18 | 10 | |
| Total | 38 | 14 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 39 | 15 | ||
| Quảng Nam | 2023-24 | V.League 1 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 28 | 14 |
| 2024-25 | V.League 1 | 9 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 9 | 2 | |
| Total | 35 | 15 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | 37 | 16 | ||
| Career Total | 333 | 220 | 33 | 15 | 22 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 392 | 243 | ||
5. Personal Life
Hoàng Vũ Samson is married to a Vietnamese woman. His naturalization as a Vietnamese citizen in 2013 was a significant event, allowing him to be registered as a domestic player in the V.League 1, which provided greater flexibility for his clubs in terms of foreign player quotas. Despite gaining Vietnamese citizenship and being eligible, he has not been called up to the Vietnam national football team, reportedly due to the Vietnam Football Federation's conservative stance on selecting naturalized players.
6. Controversies and Disciplinary Actions
Hoàng Vũ Samson has faced disciplinary actions during his career, particularly for incidents involving violent play. On March 31, 2021, the Vietnam Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee issued Decision No. 110/QĐ-LĐBĐVN, fining him 15.00 M VND and suspending him for three subsequent matches. This penalty was imposed for a serious foul committed against goalkeeper Nguyễn Tuấn Mạnh (number 26) of Đông Á Thanh Hóa. The incident occurred in the 73rd minute of a match on March 29, 2021, at Thanh Hóa Stadium during the V.League 1, where Samson was deemed to have kicked the goalkeeper directly with his foot.
7. Honours
Hoàng Vũ Samson has accumulated numerous team and individual accolades throughout his career, primarily with Hà Nội FC.
7.1. Club Honours
Hà Nội FC (formerly Hà Nội T&T)
- V.League 1:
- Champions: 2013, 2016, 2018
- Runner-up: 2012, 2014, 2015
- Third place: 2017
- Vietnamese National Cup:
- Runner-up: 2012, 2015, 2016, 2019
- Vietnamese Super Cup:
- Champion: 2018
- Runner-up: 2013, 2015, 2016
7.2. Individual Honours
- V.League 1 top scorer: 2013, 2014
8. Impact and Legacy
Hoàng Vũ Samson's impact on Vietnamese football is profound, marking him as one of the most influential players in the history of the V.League 1. His consistent and prolific goal-scoring, culminating in his status as the league's all-time leading scorer, has set a high standard for attacking players. His naturalization as a Vietnamese citizen in 2013 was a landmark event, showcasing a successful integration of foreign talent into the domestic football landscape. This move not only benefited his clubs by allowing him to play as a local player but also opened discussions about the role of naturalized players in Vietnamese football. His achievements, including multiple V.League titles and individual scoring awards, have significantly raised the profile and competitive level of the league, solidifying his lasting legacy as a prominent figure in Vietnamese sports.