National team goalkeeper Dang Van Lam to join Japanese club
VOV.VN - Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is on the verge of signing for J-League 1 side Cerezo Osaka after departing Thai club Muangthong United.
During the 2020 Thai League 1 season Van Lam appeared in 12 matches, although the competition faced severe delays due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. During his time in Thailand he was considered one of the league’s top goalkeepers.
Moving forward, the Vietnamese international will play for the Japanese club in the 2021 season, becoming the first Vietnamese footballer to play in the J-League 1.
Van Lam follows in the footsteps of other Vietnamese players to join a Japanese side, with others including legendary forward Le Cong Vinh who signed for Consadole Sapporo FC, Nguyen Tuan Anh who played for Yokohama FC, and Nguyen Cong Phuong who briefly appeared for Mito Hollyhock FC.
The goalkeeper first rose to prominence in the nation after winning the ASEAN Football Confederation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 with the Vietnamese national men’s football team.
In terms of Japanese football, Cerezo Osaka was founded in 1957 and came fifth in the 2019 season of the J-League 1.