Overseas Vietnamese midfielder reflects on Vietnamese football after 14 years of competition

Mac Hong Quan remains confident that Becamex HCMC will stay up, and also opens up about his feelings after almost 14 years in Vietnamese football.

Mac Hong Quan has been with Vietnamese football for nearly 14 years, a period long enough for this overseas Vietnamese striker to experience every emotion of a footballer's life. From being a highly promising face of the first generation of Vietnamese-origin players returning to play in their homeland, he is still diligently fighting in the V.League, even though his career is on the downward slope.

Joining Becamex HCMC in the second half of the 2025/26 season, Mac Hong Quan never thought the team from Thủ Dầu Một would end up in a tense relegation battle. Nevertheless, in the toughest moments, the striker born in 1992 still trusts his team’s ability to overcome difficulties. “I have experienced the feeling of fighting relegation until the last round in the 2024/25 season while playing for Binh Dinh, and then the team was relegated due to extreme difficulties. However, I did not think Becamex HCMC would be in this situation at the end of this season, even though the team’s results were not too bad earlier. We still have two matches left to decide our fate. In fact, we still have control over our own destiny, and I believe Becamex HCMC will successfully stay up.”, Hong Quan expressed.

Few people still remember that Mac Hong Quan was once one of the most notable overseas Vietnamese players when he returned to play in the country. Having been well-trained at Sparta Prague in the Czech Republic, he was discovered by coach Mai Duc Chung during a training trip in Europe. His physical foundation, technical skills, and modern football thinking helped Hong Quan quickly earn a spot in the Vietnam U23 team in 2012, before being called up to the Vietnam national team just a few months later.

From Thanh Hoa, An Giang, Quang Nam, Than Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Binh Dinh to Becamex HCMC, Hong Quan has experienced almost all the ups and downs of Vietnamese professional football. “By August 2026, I will have been in the V.League arena for 13 years. That time is enough for me to taste the bitterness and sweetness brought by Vietnamese football. However, I have never regretted coming here to play, because besides my passion for the pitch, Vietnam is also my homeland.”, this striker shared.

At the age of 34, Mac Hong Quan hasn't thought about stopping yet. After the collapse of Than Quang Ninh in 2021 and the stressful seasons battling relegation, the overseas Vietnamese striker still maintains his love for the ball. “Honestly, I still really want to continue playing. I plan to play for another one or two seasons before thinking about leaving the pitch. Besides, I will study for a B coaching license to prepare for the future, since I already have a C license.”, he said.

As Vietnamese football sees more and more quality overseas Vietnamese players, Mac Hong Quan understands that his generation has opened a new path for those far from home to return and play football in their homeland. “Compared to our time about 15 years ago, Vietnamese-origin players now have many advantages. They have experience from those who came before, like us for example, and managers who support them a lot in their work. Especially, the football environment in Vietnam is now more professional and clear-cut. Besides, many Vietnamese-origin players are well-trained, have good expertise, and assert themselves in the Vietnamese football environment.”. After nearly 14 years breathing the V.League atmosphere, Mac Hong Quan is no longer just an overseas Vietnamese player; he has become a familiar part of Vietnamese football.