The Ministry of Justice in Hanoi organized a ceremony on Tuesday to present the footballer with his certificate. A Vietnamese passport and an identity card were also issued to him.
Nguyen expressed in Vietnamese his joy at becoming a Vietnamese citizen and pledged to “do everything possible to contribute to my homeland.”
He reportedly started the process of applying for Vietnamese citizenship nine years ago. However, it was only after he moved to Vietnam and started playing for Cong An Ha Noi FC that he fulfilled the requirements for naturalization.
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Goalkeeper Filip Nguyen (second from right) with his father (far right), wife and son, receiving his Vietnamese citizenship certificate. Cong An Ha Noi FC football match photo |
Now recognized as a Vietnamese citizen, Nguyen is eligible to participate in the 2023 Asian Cup, if selected for the national team. Coach Philippe Troussier has included his name on the preliminary list of 50 players for the tournament, submitted to the Asian Football Confederation.
“I heard about the national team’s preliminary list,” he said. “However, I am currently focusing on a good performance in Cong An Ha Noi. If I am called up, I will do everything possible to help the national team achieve new feats.”
Born to a Vietnamese father and a Czech mother, Nguyen, 31, graduated from Sparta Prague’s youth football academy. He played for the club before joining other teams including Bydzov, Vlasim, Slova Liberec and Slovacko.
In the 2018–19 season he was named the best goalkeeper in the Czech First League.
He was called up by the Czech Republic national team for their preparations for the 2022 World Cup. However, he did not play any matches, which keeps him eligible to represent Vietnam.
Transfermarkt, the world’s most renowned football rating and transfer site, estimated the value of his transfer at 600,000 euros (US$655,700), making him Vietnam’s most valuable footballer.
