At just 17, rookie Tu Nhu Hien helped Cong An Hanoi (Hanoi Police) win three championships in 1964.

Now recognized as northern Vietnam’s best striker of the period, known as the golden era of Vietnamese football (1960-1980), Hien never ceased to amaze fans or opponents as a left-footed forward who always played the right flank.

Hien, now 62, became Cong An Hanoi number one scorer his first year, leading the team to the Tong Cong Doan (General Union) Championship as well as first place at the Hanoi Liberation competition (celebrating the 10th anniversary of the end of French colonialism in the north) and the Northern Championships.

The next year, at just 18, Hien was called up to join the national squad. He felt like a minnow in the presence of local legends Truong Tan Nghia, Le The Tho and Tran Duy Long. Expecting to be just a substitute, the young striker was surprised to find himself in the starting lineup.

‘I played so well with Hung’

Hien soon found his stride on the national squad playing forward with Tran Hung from Hai Phong Port. They quickly became known as the deadliest offensive duo in Vietnam.

“I don’t know why I played so well with Hung,” said Hien. “It was like we could read each other’s minds.”

Hien had similar success in future seasons with Cong An Hanoi.

“With the Hanoi squad, I combined wonderfully with Nguyen Ngoc Diep, Nguyen Van Nha and Le Van Dang,” he said. “We became a strong front line. I scored lots of goals thanks to good passes from those guys.”

But remembering his more difficult games, Hien has not forgotten the defenders that gave him the most trouble.

“Nguyen Quy Thiem and Nguyen Trong Giap at The Cong were the hardest to deal with.”

Going south

Hien said his most memorable experience was in 1974 in a game against Cong An Hai Phong (Hai Phong Police).

“The defenders kept close to me and played so tough that I suffered an ankle injury,” Hien said. “But I kept the pain out of my mind and scored three goals in the 5-0 victory.”

Hien also said he’d never forget his first trip down south after reunification in 1975.

“We were eager to play against Ho Chi Minh City’s biggest names like Do Cau, Du Tan, Tam Lang and Le Dinh Thang,” he said. “We played the first match excellently and beat Cong Nghiep Thuc Pham 2-1.”

But the tired squad then lost 1-3 to Saigon Port.

By the time he hung up his cleats in 1983, Hien had been awarded the honorary title of Police Major by his team’s owner. In his nearly 20-year career he only played for two squads: Cong An Hanoi and the national team.

Reported by Thanh Luong