Russian-Vietnamese goalkeeper returns to domestic league on three-year contract
Tuesday, August 16, 2022, 16:55 GMT+7
Russian-born goalkeeper Dang Van Lam will compete for Topenland Binh Dinh FC in Vietnam’s top-tier V-League 1 following the two sides’ deal signing, the football club announced on Monday afternoon.
The contract will last for three years.
While Lam’s salary was kept undisclosed, sources told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the payment is not less than US$300,000 a year.
After completing the paperwork, Lam will play in Topenland Binh Dinh FC’s match against Thanh Hoa FC in the 13th round of the 2022 V-League 1 on August 20.
“Before, I played in Thailand and Japan as I wanted to try new opportunities and challenge myself,” said Lam after the contract signing ceremony.
“Now, I think more about my family, so I want to return to Vietnam and play football here.
“It’s a pleasure for me to wear Topenland Binh Dinh’s jersey for the next three years.”
Lam joined Japan’s Cerezo Osaka football club in early 2021.
A top-choice goalkeeper of the Vietnamese national men’s football team, Lam only played one match in the Emperor’s Cup and another game in the 2021 AFC Champions League for the Japanese club during his one year and seven months there.
An injury in September 2021 that led to a four-month break narrowed Lam’s chance to compete for a slot in Cerezo Osaka’s starting line-up in every game.
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| Russian-Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam (R) signs a three-year contract with Topenland Binh Dinh FC, August 15, 2022. Photo: N.K. / Tuoi Tre |
As a result, the 29-year-old goalie never competed in a single match at the top-notch J1 League before deciding to quit the job.
During the injury, Lam also missed Vietnam’s games in the final Asian qualification round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Experts believe leaving Cerezo Osaka will give the Russian-Vietnamese keeper more time on the pitch.
Lam signed with Hai Phong FC, another V-League 1 side, and then transferred to Thai football club Muangthong United in January 2021 before moving to Cerezo Osaka.
Lam was born to a Vietnamese man and a Russian woman in 1993 and brought up in Moscow.
He started his youth football career at two Russian football clubs before returning to Vietnam in 2010.
He began playing for Vietnam’s national squad in 2015 and is among the team’s No. 1 goalkeepers.
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