Soccer star Lee Nguyen to be naturalized Vietnamese

Not sure if “naturalization” is the right word to apply to Texas-born Lee Nguyen whose parents are born in Vietnam, but the news is Lee (whom fans call by his first name) will get himself Vietnamese citizenship on April 1 (of all the dates to choose from!) as part of the deal of playing for Hoang Anh Gia Lai, reports Voice of Vietnam radio here.

Click here for all entries about the former Gatorade National Boy Soccer Player of the Year, member of the national under-20 squad as an 18-year-old, and Soccer Times and Soccer America‘s Freshman of the Year.

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18 Responses to Soccer star Lee Nguyen to be naturalized Vietnamese

  1. chau nguyen says:

    This means he can play for the national team and Viet fans will appreciate him much more. Good choice.

  2. Paul says:

    Does this mean that he is a communist?

  3. Jung Kim says:

    No Pablo.

  4. Steve Perez says:

    I dunno, it sounds like he’s a little communist soccer player now.

  5. Lanin says:

    It means the VN army can draft him after April 1, then they can let him play for the army’s soccer team without paying a damn cent to the owner of HAGL.

  6. christiannn says:

    if he does become a citizen of Vietnam, it doesn’t mean he’ll a communist.

  7. Jung Kim says:

    I agree.

  8. Anthony ( fr Australia) says:

    Don’t forget folks, his parents like most of us escaped VN because of the commies.Why do you want to befriend your enemies by playing for their flag ?

  9. Steven Le says:

    All is money, guys. It means nothing. Lee was born in the United States, and he never live of single day under Vietnamese communist hardline regime(from 1954-1986), Neither do most young Vietnamese who were born after 1986 in Vietnam. Vietnam now is not a communist country, it is controlled by dictatorship such as China, Taiwan before 1988, South Korea before 1988, Singapore now. The difference is the controlled party called communist party instead of Nationalist Party(Taiwan) or socialist democratic party(South Korea). Lee is careless about politics. By Vietnamese Law, only 3 or 4 foreign players can play in the V team that’s why he has to get Vietnamese citizen. However, The United States might take his American citizenship away from him(I doubt they will do that, but they could).
    Still Lee won’t be able to play for Vietnamese National team unless he resign his American citizenship, which he won’t because He already played for American National team. Last but not least, do not politicize things, guy. He is still our kids.

  10. Joan Nguyen says:

    Steven,

    Morons do not politicize things. Ideas and concepts beyond their comprehension fall under “communism”. If you read this blog, whom have these idiots not labeled a commie? For all I know, they may think that the US is a form of communism. Whatever…

  11. Ming ka Lam says:

    many of people dont know that vietnam is one of couple lucrative market for soccer in south east asia. more and more players from other countries start trying out in vietnam. A player like Lee gets paid around 40 thousands/month.Famous star in vietnam like cong vinh gets paid around half of that, but it is still alot of money if you live in vietnam. Lee gets paid about the same as in denmark.If he plays for vietnam national team? i dont know there is possibility. I dont know if the U.S ever calls him again to the national team.

  12. Frank says:

    I guess I agree with you but maybe if you explained it just a little more I could learn more. Thanks in advance.

  13. Jess Longe says:

    Hi, loved the post but quick question…I had a little difficulty loading your page – I use firefox, do you think this was the problem…Bookmarked :-)

  14. Lance says:

    Communist is a communist. Lee betrayed all of vietnamese who escaped VN to live a dream that he now fulfilled as a soccer stars. Communist does not grant Lees dreams. I agreed that you do not forget your origin, but if Lee grows up under communist. What are chances that he got where he now.

  15. Edward Craig says:

    We see the V-League developing rapidly. We are a USA based soccer agency
    and wish to cooperate with clubs in Vietnam in recruiting top players for trials in there clubs

  16. Edward Craig says:

    We see the V-League developing rapidly. We are a USA based soccer agency
    and wish to cooperate with clubs in Vietnam in recruiting top players for trials in there clubs
    kingssportsmgt@usa.com

  17. mick huynh says:

    hey, Lance
    stay out of politic. lee play soccer not betray anyone, stay with soccer and love soccer. everything happen for a reason. If the south did lost the war to north. I might not know what US is. Because of that reason we all have a new life.

  18. KEE says:

    Lee should not be there in the first place. He should have stayed in euro or back to the US to play even though they paid him much cheaper than VN. Team USA will notice him more

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