Lee Nguyen
Encyclopedia
Lee Nguyen is an American soccer midfielder who currently is a free agent. He had previously played for V-League
club Becamex Bình Dương.
and played for Dallas Texans, one of the nation's elite youth teams. Nguyen was coached by club founder Hassan Nazari
and later David Hudgell in his senior year won several tournaments with the team, including the Dallas Cup
, Disney Showcase, and Region III Championships (twice). Nguyen also won a National Championship in the U-18 age bracket and finished in third place in the Nation in his U-16 year.
A winger with creative dribbling skills, he has represented the United States national team
as a member of its youth squads. He was the only high school player to be named in the U.S. squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
and was named the 2004–05 Gatorade
National Boy Soccer Player of the Year. Nguyen turned down an offer from Major League Soccer
, choosing instead to accept a scholarship to Indiana University.
Despite doubts about his size and athleticism, Nguyen showed little trouble adjusting to the more physical nature of the college game. Soccer Times and Soccer America both named him their national Freshman of the Year on the strength of his five-goal, twelve-assist campaign in autumn of 2005. He played one year at Indiana before pursuing a professional contract overseas after his freshman year, having briefly played in the USL Premier Development League
for Ajax Orlando Prospects
.
in the Netherlands
, and was noticed by famed Dutch coach Guus Hiddink
, then at PSV Eindhoven. Nguyen signed for PSV (joining fellow American DaMarcus Beasley
) and Hiddink groomed the youngster to play wing in his attack-minded 4-3-3 system. At PSV he put Lee (and not Nguyen) on the back of his Jersey because previously there was a Lee, Lee Young-Pyo
, from South Korea
that played on PSV.
He made one appearance in the Eredivisie
in 2006. Hiddink then left the club to coach the Russian national team
and was replaced by Ronald Koeman
, who preferred other options and demoted Nguyen to the reserve squad. Nguyen performed well for Young PSV but continued to struggle to get looks with the first team and began considering offers elsewhere.
club Randers FC
had signed Nguyen until the summer of 2009.
club Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
. He scored a hat trick on his first competitive appearance for HAGL in a 3-2 cup win over Saigon United. On March 7, 2009, he scored his first official goal against Xi Mang Hai Phong, and proceeded to also get sent off for a second bookable offense. Lee finished his first season with nine league goals, four cup goals, and sixteen assists in twenty-four appearances. HAGL finished sixth in the league.
Through club partnership connections, Nguyen spent the summer of 2009 training with English club Arsenal in the hopes of earning another contract in Europe.
club FC Dallas
fell through, Nguyen signed an 18-month contract with 2009 V-League runners-up Becamex Bình Dương FC. Nguyen had his debut for the 2007-08 champions in the match against Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa
on May 30, 2010. He made two assists and helped his team win 5-2.
On June 29, 2011, Becamex Bình Dương confirmed the club and Lee had mutually agreed to terminate Lee's contract. Lee is now a free agent.
, California
.
He was named to the U.S. squad for the 2007 Copa América and made appearances against Paraguay
and Colombia
.
V-League
The number of foreign players is restricted to five per team. A team could use three foreigners on the field each game.As 2009 statistics, about half of V-League foreign players are Brazilian and the rest come from Argentina, Nigeria, Ghana, Czech Republic, Thailand and others.-Attendance:V-League...
club Becamex Bình Dương.
Early career
Nguyen grew up in DallasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
and played for Dallas Texans, one of the nation's elite youth teams. Nguyen was coached by club founder Hassan Nazari
Hassan Nazari
Hassan Nazari is a retired Iranian footballer. He usually played as a defender.-Playing career:He began his career in his hometown of Abadan, playing for clubs like 'Sepah Abadan' and Sanat Naft. His good play got him a transfer to one of Iranian football's better teams, Taj. There he could win...
and later David Hudgell in his senior year won several tournaments with the team, including the Dallas Cup
Dallas Cup
The Dallas Cup is an international football tournament for invited youth teams, held annually in Dallas, Texas. It was first held in 1980. The current champion is Cruzeiro...
, Disney Showcase, and Region III Championships (twice). Nguyen also won a National Championship in the U-18 age bracket and finished in third place in the Nation in his U-16 year.
A winger with creative dribbling skills, he has represented the United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
as a member of its youth squads. He was the only high school player to be named in the U.S. squad for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
and was named the 2004–05 Gatorade
Gatorade
Gatorade is a brand of sports-themed food and beverage products, built around its signature product: a line of sports drinks. Gatorade is currently manufactured by PepsiCo, distributed in over 80 countries...
National Boy Soccer Player of the Year. Nguyen turned down an offer from Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, choosing instead to accept a scholarship to Indiana University.
Despite doubts about his size and athleticism, Nguyen showed little trouble adjusting to the more physical nature of the college game. Soccer Times and Soccer America both named him their national Freshman of the Year on the strength of his five-goal, twelve-assist campaign in autumn of 2005. He played one year at Indiana before pursuing a professional contract overseas after his freshman year, having briefly played in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
for Ajax Orlando Prospects
Ajax Orlando Prospects
Ajax Orlando Prospects was an American soccer team, founded in 2002. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The Prospects played their...
.
PSV Eindhoven
Nguyen played for the U.S. at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship2005 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in The Netherlands between 10 June and 2 July 2005. The 2005 championship was the 15th contested.- Venues :- Qualification :The following 24 teams qualified for the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship...
in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, and was noticed by famed Dutch coach Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
, then at PSV Eindhoven. Nguyen signed for PSV (joining fellow American DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Lamont Beasley is an American soccer player who plays for Puebla of the Mexican Primera División. He plays mainly as a winger on the left side of the midfield, but has also been used as a forward and fullback...
) and Hiddink groomed the youngster to play wing in his attack-minded 4-3-3 system. At PSV he put Lee (and not Nguyen) on the back of his Jersey because previously there was a Lee, Lee Young-Pyo
Lee Young-Pyo
Lee Young-Pyo is a South Korean football player. Lee is recognized for his speed and dribbling skills. His former manager Martin Jol once called him "the best left-back in Holland"....
, from South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
that played on PSV.
He made one appearance in the Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
in 2006. Hiddink then left the club to coach the Russian national team
Russia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
and was replaced by Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman
Ronald Koeman is a former Dutch footballer, and the current manager of Feyenoord. He is the younger brother of former Feyenoord coach Erwin Koeman and the son of former Dutch international Martin Koeman...
, who preferred other options and demoted Nguyen to the reserve squad. Nguyen performed well for Young PSV but continued to struggle to get looks with the first team and began considering offers elsewhere.
Randers FC
On January 31, 2008, it was announced that the Danish SuperligaDanish Superliga
The Danish Superliga is the current Danish football championship tournament, and administered by the Danish Football Association. It is the highest association football league in Denmark and is currently contested by 12 teams each year, with 2 teams to be relegated, which proves to be one of the...
club Randers FC
Randers FC
Randers FC is a Danish professional football team based in Randers, which plays in the top-flight Danish Superliga championship. Founded as a merger on January 1, 2003, the club builds upon the license of Randers Freja, a former three-time Danish Cup winning team...
had signed Nguyen until the summer of 2009.
Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
On January 17, 2009, Lee Nguyen signed with V-LeagueV-League
The number of foreign players is restricted to five per team. A team could use three foreigners on the field each game.As 2009 statistics, about half of V-League foreign players are Brazilian and the rest come from Argentina, Nigeria, Ghana, Czech Republic, Thailand and others.-Attendance:V-League...
club Hoàng Anh Gia Lai
Hoang Anh Gia Lai
Hoàng Anh Gia Lai is a Vietnamese soccer club based in Pleiku. They play in the top division in Vietnamese soccer. Their home stadium is Pleiku Stadium.The team signed an agreement with Arsenal F.C...
. He scored a hat trick on his first competitive appearance for HAGL in a 3-2 cup win over Saigon United. On March 7, 2009, he scored his first official goal against Xi Mang Hai Phong, and proceeded to also get sent off for a second bookable offense. Lee finished his first season with nine league goals, four cup goals, and sixteen assists in twenty-four appearances. HAGL finished sixth in the league.
Through club partnership connections, Nguyen spent the summer of 2009 training with English club Arsenal in the hopes of earning another contract in Europe.
Becamex Bình Dương
On March 22, 2010, after a deal with Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
club FC Dallas
FC Dallas
FC Dallas is an American professional soccer club based in the Dallas suburb of Frisco, Texas which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
fell through, Nguyen signed an 18-month contract with 2009 V-League runners-up Becamex Bình Dương FC. Nguyen had his debut for the 2007-08 champions in the match against Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa
Lam Sơn Thanh Hóa F.C.
Thanh Hóa is a Vietnamese football club based in Thanh Hóa. They are now playing in V-League.The team is currently playing at Thanh Hoa Stadium.- Current squad :As of 17 May 2011...
on May 30, 2010. He made two assists and helped his team win 5-2.
On June 29, 2011, Becamex Bình Dương confirmed the club and Lee had mutually agreed to terminate Lee's contract. Lee is now a free agent.
International career
Nguyen made his debut for the senior national team on June 2, 2007 as a substitute in a 4-1 friendly match victory over China in San JoseSan Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
He was named to the U.S. squad for the 2007 Copa América and made appearances against Paraguay
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
and Colombia
Colombia national football team
The Colombian national football team represents Colombia in international football competitions and is controlled by the Colombian Football Federation. It is a member of the CONMEBOL...
.