Who is Le Pham Thanh Long, the midfielder of the Vietnam national team?

Le Pham Thanh Long is a hot topic after the Vietnam national team's win against Indonesia in the ASEAN Cup 2026.

Le Pham Thanh Long (born June 5, 1996) is a midfielder for Hanoi Police FC and the Vietnam national team. The player from Quang Ngai province stands 1.65 m tall and plays as a defensive midfielder and central midfielder. According to Transfermarkt, he is valued at 275,000 euros.

Thanh Long joined Hanoi Police FC in September 2023. He has made 14 appearances for the Vietnam national team since 2023.

Le Pham Thanh Long is a top-class midfielder in Vietnamese football – Photo: FBNV

As a member of the first intake of the Hoang Anh Gia Lai – JMG Academy, in the same generation as Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, and Tuan Anh, Thanh Long did not have a smooth path like many of his teammates. After just one year at the academy, he was demoted to the youth team because he did not meet expectations. Subsequently, he was continuously loaned to Phu Yen, Dak Lak, Long An, Hai Phong, and then to Thanh Hoa FC in search of playing opportunities, before Thanh Hoa bought him outright in 2021.

A turning point in his career came at Thanh Hoa under coaches Ljupko Petrovic and especially Velizar Popov. Moved to the deepest role in midfield, Thanh Long showcased his ability to win back possession, control the tempo, and distribute the ball. Coach Popov once compared him to "Vietnam's Andrea Pirlo" due to his tactical vision and passing skills. He played a key role in helping Thanh Hoa win the 2023 National Cup before transferring to Hanoi Police FC.

In the Vietnam national team, Thanh Long was given opportunities by coach Philippe Troussier and continued to assert his role under coach Kim Sang Sik. In the 3-0 victory over Indonesia at the 2026 AFF Cup, he was deployed as a defensive midfielder and became the anchor in midfield. Thanh Long won 6 out of 9 duels, achieved a 90% pass accuracy (43/48), completed all 7 long passes, recorded 1 assist and 2 key passes. This performance helped Vietnam control the game better and allowed attacking players like Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, and Nguyen Hai Long to thrive.

To date, Thanh Long has won numerous titles, including 1 V.League championship, 2 National Cups, 1 National Super Cup, and 1 AFF Cup (ASEAN Cup) championship. From a player who once "wandered" through many clubs, he has risen to become one of the most reliable defensive midfielders in Vietnamese football.