Khuat Van Khang: Vietnam U23's 'trump card', 'chasing' Korean player goes viral on social media!

"The all-rounder" Khuất Văn Khang recently caused a sensation with his "chase" of a South Korean player right in the penalty area, like a game of hide-and-seek. Although he's skilled at every game, the moment the player frantically ran around the goal to keep his opponent occupied delighted social media.

A childhood of "worn-out canvas shoes" and a burning desire to reach the football field.

Khuat Van Khang was born on May 11, 2003, in Phuc Tho, a suburb of Hanoi. He grew up in a working-class family, where the values ​​of effort and perseverance were forged from the sweat of his father, Mr. Dau, a skilled construction worker, and his mother, Ms. Huyen, who toiled at her tofu stall in the corner of the rural market. In his childhood, Khang, like many other rural children, considered football a pure joy amidst the recently harvested fields, where a pomelo or an old plastic ball was enough to create a vibrant "football world." No one could have imagined that the dark-skinned, skinny boy of those years would possess the iron will of a future star.

The turning point came in the fourth grade, when Khang's skillful footwork shone at the district-level elementary school football tournament, catching the eye of scouts. Faced with the opportunity to pursue professional football, his family went through a fierce internal struggle. Concerned about their son being so young and fearing he would miss out on his education, Khang's parents initially refused. However, with unwavering determination, the then 10-year-old boy went on a two-day hunger strike to prove to his parents that football was his breath, his life. Finally, Uncle Dau's old motorbike carried the whole family through torrential rain to Hoa Lac, where Khang enrolled at the Viettel Sports Center, beginning an eight-year journey away from home, only returning to his hometown twice a year.

"Record holder" of titles and a journey into history.

The sacrifices and rigorous training at the The Cong – Viettel academy molded Khuat Van Khang into a man of exceptional character. He quickly became a "golden" name in youth football, setting an unprecedented record: the first and only Vietnamese player to win all four Southeast Asian championships: U15, U19, U23, and the National Team. Not stopping there, with a SEA Games gold medal and consistent participation in international campaigns, Van Khang solidified his position as a "king of youth tournaments" with a record that any of his peers would envy.

Notably, Khuat Van Khang made history by becoming the first Vietnamese player to participate in three consecutive U23 Asian Championship finals (2022, 2024, 2026). His consistent goalscoring in the last two tournaments not only equaled the record of his predecessors like Cong Phuong and Van Tung but also demonstrated incredible consistency. At the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals, Khang was not only a playmaker and key player in the midfield but also a strong source of moral support for the entire team, contributing significantly to Vietnam's U23 team's deep run and securing the valuable Bronze Medal.

"The ultimate trump card" in the hands of coach Kim Sang-sik.

If one word had to describe Khuất Văn Khang's performance in the recent tournament, it would undoubtedly be "versatility." Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, the 2003-born player transformed into a true "lifesaver." With the U23 Vietnam squad severely depleted by injuries and suspensions, captain Văn Khang was deployed in four different positions: right winger, left winger, left back, and most notably, center back.

His rapid adaptation stems not only from his skillful left-footed technique or thunderous long-range shots, but also from his keen tactical thinking. In the dramatic third-place match against South Korea U23 on the morning of January 24th, when the home team was down to 10 men and severely short of defensive personnel, Khang dropped back to play as a true center-back alongside Nhat Minh. He threw himself into every play, provided intelligent cover, and maintained precise positioning, helping Vietnam withstand the relentless attacks of their opponents. Khang's sacrifice of his preferred position for the collective good is the clearest evidence of the disciplined and flexible philosophy that coach Kim Sang-sik has painstakingly built.

The "chase" moment that went viral and won the hearts of fans.

Besides his impressive professional statistics, Khuất Văn Khang unintentionally became the center of attention on social media after the match against South Korea thanks to a unique defensive move. In an effort to mark the opposing team's number 9 striker during a corner kick, Khang relentlessly chased and circled around goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình's penalty area like a devoted "bodyguard." This image was immediately edited by netizens with the catchy background music "Can you catch me?", creating a meme sensation across various forums.

Humorous captions like "If I catch you today, you're finished" or "A game of chase around Cao Van Binh" brought refreshing laughter to fans. However, behind that humor, experts and spectators alike saw an unyielding fighting spirit. Even when his stamina was depleted in extra time, Van Khang's relentless pursuit of his opponent with all his determination was a symbolic image of the fighting spirit of the "Golden Star Warriors".

A humble star, finding solace in a small display case in her hometown.

Despite being a shining star, the captain of the Vietnam U23 team with a stable income and reputation, Khuất Văn Khang still maintains the simplicity of a young man from Phúc Thọ. His parents' house remains the same, not overly luxurious, with only one major change: the display cabinet filled with trophies, medals, and certificates that are ever-growing. It is the most sacred place, where Uncle Dẩu and Aunt Huyền look every day, proudly remembering their youngest son who once went without food.

Khuất Văn Khang's journey from the impoverished rice paddies of his hometown to the Bronze Medal at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship is a powerfully inspiring story of aspiration and dedication. With the absolute trust of coach Kim Sang-sik and the love of the fans, the "all-rounder" named Khuất Văn Khang will surely go far, continuing to be an irreplaceable pillar of Vietnamese football on new paths of conquest.

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