Vietnamese veteran goalkeeper Dang Thi Kieu Trinh has announced her retirement from international football after 14 years of service to the country’s national women team.
During her career, she won several regional titles for the national team, including two trophies at AFF Women’s Championship (2006 and 2012), alongside three gold medals at SEA Games (2009, 2015, 2017).
Trinh was awarded AFF Woman Player of the Year in 2013. She also won three Golden Ball awards for Vietnamese Best Woman Player of the Year in 2011, 2012 and 2017.
“I had intended to retire after competing at 2017 SEA Games, however, I decided to postpone my retirement because of my passion for football,” Trinh said, as quoted by Dan Tri.
“My retirement from international football will not affect the goalkeeper position at Vietnam women’s team, because there are younger ones who can take over my post. I want the younger generation to take over on the field.”
Currently, Trinh is plying her trade at Vietnam national women football league for Ho Chi Minh City. After finishing the first leg of the National Championship in June, the 33-year-old will join a coaching course organized by the Asian Football Federation and the Vietnamese Football Federation in Danang City.
