From Ikhsan Fandi to Doan Van Hau — Meet the SEA starlets who preceded Luqman Hakim on European shores
With Luqman Hakim set to begin his European adventure soon, Goal look back on his fellow Southeast Asian players who have taken similar route.
- Heerenveen
Table of Contents
ToggleDoan Van Hau — SC Heerenveen
Because of his impressive physical maturity even when he was a teenager, Van Hau already played senior professional football at the age of 17 with Ha Noi FC. Part of the impressive generation of Vietnamese players that have grown together since the 2017 U20 World Cup that culminated in a strong Asian Cup performance last year as well as helping his country capture the 2018 AFF Championship. His performances in the latter of that two competition left Dutch side Heerenveen suitably impressed enough to take him on a loan deal in 2019.
- Getty Images
Ikhsan Fandi — Raufoss IL
Ikhsan not only inherited his father's good looks but also his footballing talents as well. Unlike elder brother Fandi who plays as a centre back, Ikhsan is a striker just like Fandi Ahmad was in his pomp. Made his senior international debut for Singapore at the age of 18 and hasn't looked back since. A successful trial in Norway saw him being snapped up by Raufoss and the lanky forward has already found the net five times in the Norwegian second division.
- Izzat Akmal
Nazmi Faiz — Beira-Mar
A cultured central midfielder who currently plays for Johor Darul Ta'zim, Nazmi actually spent a short period of time in Portuguese football with Beira-Mar in 2012 when he was only 18 years of age. His performance for Harimau Muda in the Singaporean League caught the attention of the then in the top tier of Portugal football. But it was only a brief journey for Nazmi as personal difficulties meant he had to cut short his time in Europe after only six months.
- STVV
Nguyen Cong Phuong — Sint-Truiden
The Vietnamese Messi was the biggest star for the football-mad country after Le Cong Vinh and before Nguyen Quang Hai. A forward who made his senior international debut before the turned 20, there were always plenty of rumours surrounding Cong Phuong and a possible move to Europe. When it finally happened via a loan deal to Belgium side Sint-Truiden, it was only a brief spell and he quickly made a return to Vietnam V-League after finding games hard to come by.
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