Lee Nguyen
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| Lee Nguyen | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | October 7, 1986 | |
| Place of birth | Richardson, Texas, United States | |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) | |
| Playing position | Midfielder, Forward | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Hoàng Anh Gia Lai | |
| Number | 24 | |
| Youth career | ||
| 2004-2005 | Indiana University | |
| Senior career1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 2006–2008 2008–2009 2009– |
PSV Eindhoven Randers FC Hoàng Anh Gia Lai |
1 (0) 22 (0) 24 (9) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2007– 2007– |
United States U23 United States |
3 (0) 3 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Lee Nguyen - Nguyễn Thế Anh (born October 7, 1986) is an American soccer midfielder who currently plays for Vietnamese V-League club Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.
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[edit] Early career
Nguyen grew up in Dallas and played for Dallas Texans, one of the nation's elite youth teams. Nguyen was coached by club founder Hassan Nazari and later David Hudgell in his senior year won several tournaments with the team, including the Dallas Cup, Disney Showcase, and Region III Championships (twice). Nguyen also won a National Championship in the U-18 age bracket and finished in third place in the Nation in his U-16 year.
A winger with creative dribbling skills, he has represented the United States national team as a member of its youth squads. He was the only high school player to be named in the U.S. squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship and was named the 2004–05 Gatorade National Boy Soccer Player of the Year. Nguyen turned down an offer from Major League Soccer, choosing instead to accept a scholarship to Indiana University.
Despite doubts about his size and athleticism, Nguyen showed little trouble adjusting to the more physical nature of the college game. Soccer Times and Soccer America both named him their national Freshman of the Year on the strength of his five-goal, twelve-assist campaign in autumn of 2005. He played one year at Indiana before pursuing a professional contract overseas after his freshman year.
[edit] Club career
[edit] PSV Eindhoven
Nguyen played for the U.S. at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, and was noticed by famed Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, then at PSV Eindhoven. Nguyen signed for PSV (joining fellow American DaMarcus Beasley) and Hiddink groomed the youngster to play wing in his attack-minded 4-3-3 system. At PSV he put Lee (and not Nguyen) on the back of his Jersey because previously there was a Lee, Lee Young-Pyo, from South Korea that played on PSV. The name Lee is more recognizable with the fans, and every time Nguyen touched the ball, fans would scream "Lee!"
He made one appearance in the Eredivisie in 2006. Hiddink then left the club to coach the Russian national team and was replaced by Ronald Koeman, who preferred other options and demoted Nguyen to the reserve squad. Nguyen performed well for Young PSV but continued to struggle to get looks with the first team and began considering offers elsewhere.
[edit] Randers FC
On January 31 it was announced that the Danish Superliga club Randers FC had signed Lee until the summer of 2009.[1]
[edit] Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
On January 17, 2009, Lee Nguyen signed with Vietnamese side Hoàng Anh Gia Lai.[2] He scored a hat trick on his first competitive appearance for HAGL in a 3-2 cup win over Saigon United. On March 7, 2009 he scored his first official goal against Xi Mang Hai Phong, and proceeded to also get sent off for a second bookable offence. Lee finished his first season with 9 league goals, 4 cup goals, and 16 assists in 24 appearances. HAGL finished at sixth in the ladder.
Through club partnership connections, Nguyen spent the summer of 2009 training with Arsenal FC in the hopes of earning another contract in Europe.[3] In January 2010, after spending time training with FC Dallas in the States, Nguyen was a offered a 5-year league minimum wage contract by Major League Soccer, which was rejected by Nguyen[4].
[edit] International career
Nguyen made his debut for the senior national team on June 2, 2007 as a substitute in a 4-1 friendly match victory over China in San Jose, California.
He was named to the U.S. squad for the 2007 Copa America and made appearances against Paraguay and Colombia.
[edit] References
- ^ HelminLagt, Jesper (31 January 2008). "Tre forstærkninger til Randers FC" (in Danish). bold.dk (Sport Publish OÜ). http://www.bold.dk/nyt/index.php?vis=79210.
- ^ "US Nat Lee Nguyen Close To Vietnam Move". Goal.com. 17 December 2008. http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1614/americans-abroad/2008/12/18/1017424/us-nat-lee-nguyen-close-to-vietnam-move. Retrieved 13 January 2009.
- ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/1276/south-east-asia/2009/09/17/1506214/us-vietnamese-star-lee-nguyen-to-train-with-arsenal
- ^ http://www.thisisamericansoccer.com/us-mens-national-team/vietnam-star-or-league-minimum/
[edit] External links
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