Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng
{{short description|Vietnamese footballer (born 2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng
| image =
| birth_name = Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|2002|8|2}}
| birth_place = Kỳ Anh, Hà Tĩnh, Vietnam
| height = 1.78 m
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| position = Centre back
| youthyears1 = 2013–2020
| youthclubs1 = Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh
| years1 = 2020–2024
| clubs1 = Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh
| caps1 = 24
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2022
| clubs2 = → Long An (loan)
| caps2 = 16
| goals2 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 2022–2024
| nationalteam1 = Vietnam U23
| nationalcaps1 = 17
| nationalgoals1 = 1
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's football}}
{{Medal|Country|{{fb|VIE}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|AFF U-23 Championship}}
{{Medal|W|Cambodia 2022|Team}}
{{Medal|W|Thailand 2023|}}
{{Medal|Competition|SEA Games}}
{{Medal|Bronze|Phnom Penh 2023|Team|}}
| pcupdate = 4 April 2024
| ntupdate = 3 May 2023
}}
Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng (born 2 August 2002) is a Vietnamese professional footballer who plays as a centre back.{{Soccerway|ngc-thng-nguyn/687098}}
In May 2024, Ngọc Thắng was arrested for illegal drug use in Hà Tĩnh and was later sentenced to four years in prison.
Club career
Born in Hà Tĩnh, Ngọc Thắng was admitted to the youth team of Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh in 2013 after his performances during a local tournament. He was promoted to Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh's first team for the 2020 V.League 1 season but didn't make any appearances.{{cite web|url=https://baohatinh.vn/bong-da/nguyen-ngoc-thang-tu-kep-phu-doi-tre-ha-tinh-den-canh-cua-u23-viet-nam/225270.htm|title=Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng: Từ "kép phụ" đội trẻ Hà Tĩnh đến cánh cửa U23 Việt Nam|date=4 January 2022|publisher=Báo Hà Tĩnh}}
In 2021, Ngọc Thắng was loaned to {{ill|Nutifood-JMG|vi|Học viện Bóng đá NutiFood-JMG}} and won the 2021 Vietnamese National U-21 Championship as his team's main centre back.
On 13 February 2023, Ngọc Thắng made his professional debut, starting in Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh's 2–3 V.League 1 defeat against defending champions Hà Nội.{{cite web|url=https://baohatinh.vn/clb-hong-linh-ha-tinh/trung-ve-nguyen-ngoc-thang-va-co-hoi-toa-sang-tai-v-league-2023/244814.htm#:~:text=League%202023-,Trung%20v%E1%BB%87%20Nguy%E1%BB%85n%20Ng%E1%BB%8Dc%20Th%E1%BA%AFng%20(SN%202002%2C%20tr%C3%BA%20x%C3%A3%20K%E1%BB%B3,League%202023.|title=Trung vệ Nguyễn Ngọc Thắng và cơ hội tỏa sáng tại V.League 2023|date=23 February 2023|publisher=Báo Hà Tĩnh}}{{cite web|url=https://znews.vn/hang-loat-tuyen-thu-u22-viet-nam-duoc-thi-dau-khi-vleague-tro-lai-post1420667.html|title=Hàng loạt tuyển thủ U22 Việt Nam được thi đấu khi V.League trở lại|publisher=Zing News|date=11 April 2023}}
International career
Ngọc Thắng was named to the Vietnam national under-23 team squad for the 2022 AFF U-23 Championship. He played in the opening game against Singapore before getting replaced in the squad for being tested positive for Covid-19.{{cite web|url=https://sport5.vn/2-cau-thu-ghi-ban-cho-u23-viet-nam-bi-thay-the-do-covid-19-20220221234227061.htm|title=3 cầu thủ ghi bàn cho U23 Việt Nam bị thay thế do Covid-19|date=22 February 2022|publisher=Sport 5}} His teammates later secured the title after the 1–0 against Thailand in the final.{{cite web|url=https://vov.vn/the-thao/u23-viet-nam-vo-dich-u23-dong-nam-a-nghich-canh-tao-anh-hung-post926924.vov|title=U23 Việt Nam vô địch U23 Đông Nam Á: Nghịch cảnh tạo anh hùng|date=27 February 2022|publisher=VOV|language=vi}}
In April 2022, Ngọc Thắng was selected by coach Philippe Troussier to participate in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games with Vietnam under-22.{{cite web|url=https://vff.org.vn/dt-u22-viet-nam-chot-danh-sach-chinh-thuc-20-cau-thu-du-sea-games-32/|title=ĐT U22 Việt Nam chốt danh sách chính thức 20 cầu thủ dự SEA Games 32|date=29 April 2023|publisher=Vietnamese Football Federation}}
In April 2024, Ngọc Thắng was named in Vietnam U23's squad for the AFC U-23 Asian Cup 2024. He was sent-off in his first match against Kuwait and conceded his team a penalty.{{cite web|url=https://vff.org.vn/hlv-hoang-anh-tuan-cong-bo-danh-sach-23-cau-thu-tham-du-vck-u23-chau-a-2024/|title=HLV Hoàng Anh Tuấn công bố danh sách 23 cầu thủ tham dự VCK U23 châu Á 2024|date=15 April 2024|publisher=Vietnam Football Federation|language=vi}}
Personal life
= Arrest and sentence =
On 4 May 2024, Ngọc Thắng and four other teammates at Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh were arrested at a hotel in Hà Tĩnh on drug-related charges. The Vietnam Football Federation immediately suspended these players from all football activities and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh also removed them from the squad.{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/4-cau-thu-ha-tinh-bi-dieu-tra-lien-quan-ma-tuy-4742517.html|title=5 cầu thủ Hà Tĩnh bị điều tra liên quan ma túy|publisher=VnExpress|language=vi|date=8 May 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/vff-dinh-chi-thi-dau-vo-thoi-han-5-cau-thu-hong-linh-ha-tinh-nghi-su-dung-chat-cam-20240508174626644.htm|title=VFF đình chỉ thi đấu vô thời hạn 5 cầu thủ Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh|publisher=Tuổi Trẻ|language=vi|date=8 May 2024}} In the trial held on 27 August 2024, the People's Court of Hà Tĩnh sentenced Ngọc Thắng to 4 years in prison for the illegal use of drugs.{{Cite web|url=https://tuoitre.vn/tuyen-an-5-cuu-thu-hong-linh-ha-tinh-mo-tiec-ma-tuy-trong-khach-san-2024082717455741.htm|title=Tuyên án 5 cựu cầu thủ Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh 'mở tiệc' ma túy trong khách sạn|publisher=Tuổi Trẻ|language=vi|date=27 August 2024}}
Honours
Nutifood JMG Academy
- Vietnamese National U-21 Football Championship: 2021
- AFF U-23 Championship: 2022, 2023
- SEA Games: Bronze medal: {{Bronze3}} 2023
References
{{reflist}}
{{Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nguyen, Ngoc Thang}}
Category:Sportspeople from Hà Tĩnh province
Category:Vietnamese men's footballers
Category:Men's association football defenders
Category:Hong Linh Ha Tinh FC players
Category:SEA Games bronze medalists for Vietnam
Category:SEA Games medalists in football
Category:21st-century Vietnamese sportsmen