In May 2024, Trung was arrested for illegal drug use in Hà Tĩnh and was later sentenced to four years and six months in prison.[1]
Early career
Born in Hà Tĩnh, Trung started his career at his local club Hà Tĩnh, joining the team when he was 10 years old.[2] In 2007, following a friendly game between the youth side of Hà Tĩnh and Hòa Phát Hà Nội, Trung's performance impressed the staffs of the Hòa Phát Hà Nội, leading in his signing to the club shortly after.[3]
Club career
Debut at Hòa Phát Hà Nội, then move to Hà Nội ACB
With Hòa Phát Hà Nội, Trung emerged as one of the rising stars of Vietnamese football. After 86 appearances for the club, he netted 29 goals, with several goals from free kick or long range shots.[3] In 2011, the club merged with Hà Nội ACB, resulting in Trung's move to the club. In January 2012, he was released from Hà Nội ACB after an internal conflict in where he refused to play for the club in an league game.[4]
Quảng Nam
In 2013, Trung joined V.League 2 side Quảng Nam. In his first season with the club, he finished as the league's joint top scorer with 10 goals scored, leading Quảng Nam to win the 2013 V.League 2 and promote to the V.League 1 for the first time in the team's history.[5] He was then named team captain and played a crucial role at helping team won their first V.League 1 title in 2017 in their fourth season at V.League 1. His contribution in Quảng Nam's historic achievement lead him winning the Vietnamese Golden Ball in 2017.[6] He left the club in the end of the 2021 season, after 9 years, having scored 80 goals after 213 matches.[7]
Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh
In 2022, Trung signed for the club of his hometown Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh and was appointed as the team captain.[8]
International career
Trung received his first called up to the Vietnam national team for the 2010 AFF Championship.[9]. He made his international debut while coming on as a substitute in a 7–1 win over Myanmar in the opening match of the tournament.[10][11] Four years later, he participated in his second AFF Championship, under the guidance of coach Toshiya Miura.[12]
In 2016, at the AYA Bank Cup final against Singapore, he scored in the extra time to help Vietnam win 3–0, which was also his first goal for the national team.[13] At the 2016 AFF Championship, Trung appeared in 5 matches, as the team reached the semi-finals before losing 3–4 on aggregate to Indonesia.[14] After the tournament, Thanh Trung was named as the new captain of Vietnam national team following the retirement of Lê Công Vinh.[15]
In October 2018, Trung was named in the preliminary squad for the 2018 AFF Championship but he did not make the final cut. This decision lead Trung to announce his retirement from international football.[16]
Arrest and sentence
On 4 May 2024, Trung and four other teammates at Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh were arrested in a hotel in Hà Tĩnh on drug-related charges. The Vietnam Football Federation immediately suspended these players from all football activities and Hồng Lĩnh Hà Tĩnh also removed them from the squad.[17][18] In the trial held on 27 August 2024, the People's Court of Hà Tĩnh sentenced Trung to 4 years and 6 months in prison for organizing illegal use of drugs.[19]
