Quang Hai and Van Hau make final Vietnam Golden Ball shortlist

The three other competitors for the title are Nguyen Van Quyet (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Trong Hoang (Viettel FC) and Do Hung Dung (Hanoi FC).

Midfielder Quang Hai is emerging as the odds-one favourite for the Men’s Golden Ball award following a successful year at both the national team and club levels. Hai finished fourth at the 2019 Asian Cup with the national squad and held the captaincy of the Vietnam U22 squad that won the 30th SEA Games gold medal, while also clinching the V.League and National Cup trophies with Hanoi FC.

Van Quyet appears to be the underdog in the race, having performed well at the club level but with no imprints at the national team level, as he was not summoned by coach Park Hang-seo.

Meanwhile, Van Hau has made the shortlist for two different award categories. In addition to the Men’s Golden Ball nomination, the defender of Dutch team SC Heerenveen is among the final four competitors for the Young Player of the Year title, together with Nguyen Van Toan (Hai Phong FC), Nguyen Hoang Duc (Viettel) and Tran Danh Trung (Viettel).

Doan Van Hau has been named in the final shortlists for both the Men's Golden Ball and Young Players of the Year awards.

In the Women’s Golden Ball category, the final five nominees include Chuong Thi Kieu, Huynh Nhu, Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung and Pham Hai Yen.

The Futsal Golden Ball shortlist features five players from Thai Son Nam FC, including Pham Duc Hoa, Tran Thai Huy, Nguyen Minh Tri, Tran Van Vu and Ho Van Y.

A gala is set to be held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 13, 2020, to announce and present the prizes to the winners of the 2019 Awards.

The Vietnam Golden Ball Awards have been organised annually by Sai Gon Giai Phong Newspaper since 1995, aiming to honour the best Vietnamese football players of the year. The awards are widely regarded as the most prestigious trophies for Vietnamese football.

Last year, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC) and Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung (Phong Phu Ha Nam) were named the winners of the Golden Ball for men and women, respectively.