1. Early Life and Career
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức's early life and youth career laid the foundation for his professional success, marked by an early passion for football and rapid development through youth academies.
1.1. Biography and Childhood
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức was born on January 11, 1998, in Cẩm Giàng District, Hải Dương Province, Vietnam. From a very young age, he displayed an intense passion for football, often becoming so engrossed in playing that he would forget to eat or sleep. He began playing football in the second grade, frequently gathering with friends to play in the streets after lunch. Just two years later, his natural talent for the sport was recognized by coaches at the Hải Dương Youth Football Training Center, who invited him to train at the facility. During his time there, coaches highly praised his playing technique and strong will to improve, consistently entrusting him with the role of team captain during youth tournaments.
1.2. Youth Career
Hoàng Đức's dedication and skill continued to develop within the youth system. In 2008, a manager from the Viettel FC football academy in Hải Dương discovered him during a youth tournament and signed him to the academy. He adapted quickly to the team and was initially trained as a forward. Throughout his years in the academy, his outstanding playing technique and relentless pursuit of excellence were consistently admired by his coaches, who regularly assigned him the role of team captain in youth tournaments. In 2016, Hoàng Đức led Viettel to the final of the Vietnamese National U-19 Football Championship. Although his team ultimately lost to Hanoi FC in the final, his exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him the "Player of the Tournament" award.
2. Club Career
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức's club career has been primarily defined by his significant contributions to Viettel FC, leading them to major titles, and his recent transfer to Phù Đổng Ninh Bình FC.
2.1. Viettel FC
Hoàng Đức's tenure at Viettel FC saw him rise from a promising youth player to a pivotal figure in the club's success, including a V.League 1 championship.
2.1.1. Early Years and V.League 2 Promotion
In 2017, Hoàng Đức was officially promoted to the Viettel FC first team squad, which competed in the V.League 2. Recognizing his impressive height and unique skillful left-foot, coach Nguyễn Hải Biên strategically repositioned Hoàng Đức to play in various midfield positions. He quickly became a regular starter for the club. In the 2018 V.League 2 season, Hoàng Đức delivered an explosive performance, starting in 17 out of 18 games across different midfield roles. He scored 9 goals and provided 3 assists, playing a crucial role in Viettel's victory in the 2018 V.League 2 championship. This triumph secured Viettel's promotion to the V.League 1 for the 2019 season. His exceptional contributions earned him the V.League 2 Player of the Season award.
2.1.2. V.League 1 Success and International Appearances
In 2020, Hoàng Đức was a crucial starter and one of the key figures in the Viettel squad that clinched the 2020 V.League 1 title. Later that year, he and Viettel finished as runners-up in the 2020 Vietnamese National Football Cup and were unable to win the 2020 Vietnamese Super Cup, losing to Hanoi FC with a score of 0-1. At the beginning of 2021, Viettel again finished as runners-up in the 2020 National Super Cup, losing to Hanoi FC by a minimal score of 1-0. The 2021 V.League 1 season was halted after 12 rounds and eventually canceled due to the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam. In the 2021 AFC Champions League, Hoàng Đức played in all 6 matches and scored 1 goal, though Viettel ultimately failed to advance to the next stage of the competition. In 2022, Viettel FC finished fourth in the V.League 1.
2.1.3. Recent V.League 1 Performance and Individual Awards
During the 2023 V.League 1 season, Hoàng Đức solidified his reputation as Viettel's key playmaker. He scored 5 goals and contributed 5 assists, helping Viettel secure a third-place finish in the league. For his outstanding performance, he was named the V.League 1 Player of the Season and was also included in the V.League 1 Team of the Season. Additionally, Viettel finished as runners-up in the 2023 Vietnamese National Football Cup.
2.2. Phù Đổng Ninh Bình FC
On October 8, 2024, with only three months remaining on his contract with Thể Công-Viettel, Nguyễn Hoàng Đức was transferred to V.League 2 club Phù Đổng Ninh Bình. This move marked a new chapter in his club career, with him beginning his tenure at the new team. He has already made an impact, scoring 1 goal in 1 appearance during the 2024-25 V.League 2 season.
3. International Career
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức has represented Vietnam across various youth and senior national teams, achieving significant success in regional and international competitions.
3.1. Vietnam U-20
In 2017, Hoàng Đức was called up to the Vietnam U-20 to participate in the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea. In the opening game against New Zealand, which ended in a goalless draw, he notably missed an open goal opportunity. Vietnam subsequently lost their remaining matches and were eliminated from the group stage.
3.2. Vietnam U-23 / Olympic
Hoàng Đức has been a key player for the Vietnam U-23 and Olympic teams, contributing to significant victories. On March 26, 2019, in the final match of Group K in the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship qualification, he scored his first goal for the Vietnam U-23 with a volley, extending the lead to 2-0 in an eventual 4-0 dominant victory against Thailand U-23. At the 2019 Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines, he played an outstanding role, scoring a crucial goal that helped Vietnam U-22 achieve a successful comeback against Indonesia U-22 in a 2-1 win. He and his teammates later clinched the gold medal in the tournament after facing the same opponent again in the final. He also contributed to Vietnam U-23's gold medal win at the 2021 Southeast Asian Games.
3.3. Vietnam National Team
Hoàng Đức has firmly established himself as a vital component of the Vietnam senior national team, making significant contributions in various major tournaments.
3.3.1. Debut and World Cup Qualifiers
On September 14, 2019, Nguyễn Hoàng Đức made his debut for the Vietnam national team in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against the United Arab Emirates, coming on as a substitute in the 81st minute. His first start for the national team in an official match occurred against Malaysia during the second phase of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, benefiting from the suspension of Nguyễn Quang Hải and an injury to Đỗ Hùng Dũng, which provided him with more opportunities to showcase his abilities. As Vietnam progressed to the third round of the qualifiers, he solidified his position as an important starter in the team, impressing with his capabilities in both defending and attacking, which also attracted attention from various Asian clubs.
3.3.2. AFF Championship
Hoàng Đức has scored crucial goals in the AFF Championship. On December 12, 2021, he scored his first goal for Vietnam in a dominant 3-0 victory against Malaysia as part of the 2020 AFF Championship. He scored his second international goal on December 27, 2022, also against Malaysia, contributing to another 3-0 win in the 2022 AFF Championship. Vietnam finished as runners-up in the 2022 AFF Championship and reached the semi-finals of the 2020 AFF Championship.
3.3.3. AFC Asian Cup and Other Tournaments
In 2022, Hoàng Đức was part of the Vietnam squad that won the VFF Cup. In 2024, he was included in Vietnam's 26-man squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, but was later withdrawn from the squad to fully recover from an ankle injury. He was also a member of the Vietnam team that won the 2024 ASEAN Championship.
4. Playing Style and Position
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức primarily plays as a midfielder, specifically excelling in both attacking and central roles. He is highly regarded for his exceptional technical skills, which include a unique and skillful left-foot. His playmaking ability is highlighted by his superb tactical vision and excellent ball control, allowing him to dictate the tempo of the game and create scoring opportunities. Coupled with his impressive height and high work rate on the field, these attributes make him a formidable presence in the midfield. He is widely considered one of the most talented Vietnamese footballers of his generation, known for his ability to perform effectively in both defensive and attacking phases of play.
5. Honours
Nguyễn Hoàng Đức has accumulated numerous team and individual honours throughout his career.
5.1. Club Honours
- V.League 1:
- Winner: 2020
- Third place: 2023
- Fourth place: 2022
- V.League 2:
- Winner: 2018
- Fourth place: 2017
- Vietnamese National Football Cup:
- Runner-up: 2020, 2023
- Vietnamese Super Cup:
- Runner-up: 2020
5.2. International Honours
- SEA Games:
- Gold Medal: 2019, 2021 (with Vietnam U-23/Olympic)
- AFC U-19 Championship:
- Fourth place: 2016 (with Vietnam U-19)
- AFF U-19 Championship:
- Third place: 2016 (with Vietnam U-19)
- ASEAN Championship:
- Winner: 2024 (with Vietnam)
- Runner-up: 2022 (with Vietnam)
- Semi-finalist: 2020 (with Vietnam)
- VFF Cup:
- Winner: 2022 (with Vietnam)
5.3. Individual Awards
- V.League 2 Player of the Season: 2018
- Vietnamese Golden Ball: 2021, 2023
- Vietnamese Bronze Ball: 2022
- AFF Championship Best XI: 2022
- V.League 1 Player of the Season: 2023
- V.League 1 Team of the Season: 2023
- Labor Order, Third Class: 2025
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Viettel | 2017 | V.League 2 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2018 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 9 | ||||
| 2019 | V.League 1 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 24 | 1 | |||
| 2020 | 17 | 2 | 5 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 23 | 2 | |||
| 2021 | 12 | 1 | - | 6 | 1 | - | 18 | 2 | ||||
| 2022 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | - | 29 | 6 | |||
| 2023 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 1 | - | - | 25 | 6 | ||||
| 2023-24 | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | ||||
| 2024-25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Phù Đổng Ninh Bình | 2024-25 | V.League 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 179 | 30 | ||||||||||
6.2. International Statistics
| Vietnam | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | 16 | 1 |
| 2022 | 7 | 1 |
| 2023 | 9 | 0 |
| 2024 | 14 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | 49 | 2 |
6.2.1. International goals
Scores and results list Vietnam's goal tally first. Only results against national teams were counted