Nam Dinh
Wikipedia - Thep Xanh Nam Dinh F.C.
Nam Định Football Club (Vietnamese: Câu lạc bộ bóng đá Thép Xanh Nam Định), currently known as Thép Xanh Nam Định due to sponsorship reasons, is a Vietnamese professional football club based in Nam Định City that competed in the V.League 1.
History
Before 1997, the club's kit always used home colors black-white which were similar to Juventus. It originates from name Namha Youths, so during the 1980-1990s they were called as "Vietnamese Juventus" by sport medias. However, after some changing times due to sponsor replacements, it was fixed as the yellow, then added lime-red.
Hà Nam Ninh won the National Football Champions (V.League) in 1985 with star player Nguyễn Văn Dũng.
Overcome difficulties to survive
In 2001, Nam Định took second place in the National Championships, losing to Bình Định In 2007, the Nam Định football team changed its name to Đạm Phú Mỹ Nam Định and won its first National Cup under its new name. In 2009 the Nam Định Football team changed its name to Megastar Nam Định and failed in standing on V.League to 1st level tournament 2010.
From 2003 to present, the club currently competes in the V.League with a sponsor of former minister Đinh La Thăng as a businessman, the top flight of Vietnamese football.
In 2011, the team changed its name back to Mikado Nam Định and was relegated to the second division after only one year. In 2012, Mikado Nam Định failed to win promotion to the first division after losing on penalties to the Khánh Hòa youth team in the semi-finals. In 2014, Nam Định won a place in the 2015 First Division after defeating Vĩnh Long 4–0 in the Second Division final at Tam Kỳ Stadium, Quảng Nam. In 2016, the team finished third overall and took part in the play-off of the 2016 National First Division but failed to win promotion to the V.League.
The following season, the team won the 2017 First Division championship and won the only place to play in the 2018 V.League. In 2019, the team introduced a new sponsor, Nam Ha Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company, and changed its name to Nam Ha Nam Dinh Pharmaceutical Football Club to compete in the V.League 2019. In this season, the team had a 2–2 draw against Hoang Anh Gia Lai. In 2021, the team changed its name back to Nam Định Football Club after the end of the contract with Nam Ha Pharmaceutical Joint Stock Company.
However, this was still a period when financial difficulties always threaten the existence of the club. Typically, the times are continuously slow or out of the budget, even have to accept relegation because they cannot find a worthy funding. There are seasons that the team leaders have to pray for help from the fan association.
Top tier league champions
After many poor seasons and even near relegation, since 2023 under the guidance of head coach Vũ Hồng Việt, Nam Định has continuously been in the top 5 strongest teams in V-League.
On 25 June 2024, Nam Định officially won the 2023–24 V.League 1 title after winning Khanh Hoa 5–1. It its the club first tier league title after 39 years since their last win in 1985. Following the title, the club qualified for the inaugural 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two group stage, making their return to the intercontinental tournament since the 2008 AFC Champions League. On 18 September 2024, Nam Định played against Hong Kong club Lee Man at the Mong Kok Stadium. Rafaelson and Lucas Silva scored a goal to secured a 2–0 win over the Hong Kong club. Nam Định finished in second place in the group stage thus seeing the team advance to the round of 16 facing against Japanese club Sanfreece Hiroshima.
Team name
The name of club was also changed 10 times due to sponsor replacements :
- Cotonkin (Hội túc cầu Hồng Bàng, 1920–1945)
- Namha Youths (Đoàn bóng tròn Thanh niên Nam Hà, 1965–1978)
- Hanamninh Industry (Đoàn bóng đá Công nghiệp Hà Nam Ninh, 1978–1991)
- Namha (CLB BĐ Nam Hà, 1991–1996)
- Namdinh (CLB BĐ Nam Định, 1997–2003)
- Songda–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Sông Đà–Nam Định, 2003–2006)
- Mikado–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Mikado–Nam Định, 2006–2007)
- Phumy Fertilizer–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Đạm Phú Mĩ–Nam Định, 2007–2008)
- Mikado–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Mikado–Nam Định, 2006–2007)
- Megastar–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Megastar–Nam Định, 2009–2011)
- Mikado–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Mikado–Nam Định, 2011–2013)
- Namdinh (CLB BĐ Nam Định, 2013–2019)
- Namha Pharma–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Dược Nam Hà–Nam Định, 2019–2020)
- Namdinh (CLB BĐ Nam Định, 2021–2022)
- Thepxanh–Namdinh (CLB BĐ Thép Xanh–Nam Định, 2023–present)
Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors such as :
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2016–2018 | N/A | Mikado |
| 2018–2020 | VNA Sport | Vicostone - Thổi hồn vào đá Nam Hà Pharma |
| 2020–2023 | Kelme | Nam Hà Pharma Xuân Thiện Group |
| 2023–present | Mitre | Xuân Thiện Group |
The team's colors are traditionally yellow and blue, symbolizing the club's identity and pride. Nam Dinh has a reputation for developing local talent and fostering a strong community connection, often drawing players from the surrounding region. Over the years, the club has experienced various successes, including notable performances in domestic competitions and a commitment to promoting the sport at grassroots levels.
Nam Dinh's style of play is characterized by its attacking flair and resilience, making them a formidable opponent in the league. The club's motto reflects its dedication to excellence and sportsmanship, aiming to inspire future generations of soccer players in Vietnam. With a blend of tradition and ambition, Nam Dinh Football Club continues to strive for success on the national stage while remaining a beloved symbol of local pride.