History of HAGL football club
HAGL football club (HAGLFC) is a club in Gia Lai province. Before it had been supported and run by HAGL Group, its name was “Gia Lai “. In the early days under HAGL Group’s management, the club took part in the National First Division but it wasn’t impressive to people all over the country. Therefore, chairman Doan Nguyen Duc (or “Bau Duc” or “Ba Duc”) conducted the first strategy before the football season 2002 that was an agreement with Kiatisuk Senamuang- a forward and team leader of Thailand national team. Kiatisuk was the best football player in Southeast Asia at that time. It was really a shock for Vietnamese football and no one thought that The Vietnamese national championship could attract a level player like Kiatisuk. On the headline of all magazines and newspapers in Thailand, people inserted the large headlines : “Who is Hoang Anh Gia Lai? Where is Gia Lai ?”.
It is considered one of the most successful agreements of Vietnamese football. Kiatisuk helped HAGL team to promote to the V-League in the football season 2002. From that, HAGL built a football club with more twoThailand excellent players - Dusit Chalermsan and Chukiat Noosarung to make a main frame for the club. Moreover, “Owner Duc” also selected some Vietnamese players such as goal keeper Vo Van Hanh, defenders Nguyen Manh Dung, Nguyen Phi Hung, Trinh Duy Quang, Lương Trung Tuan , midfielders Le Quoc Vuong, Nguyen Van Đan, Nguyen Huu Dang; and strikers Van Si Hung, Nguyen Viet Thang, Nguyen Minh Hai, Ngo Quang Truong. With above formation, HAGL FC won the V-League championships 2003 and 2004. The club also won two National Supper Cup at that time.
After the first success, above football players left the club in turn because of many different reasons. And many new contracts were signed with Kesley Alves, Tawan Sripan, and Datsakorn Thonglao.
One of the most important events of HAGL FC was the success in signing an agreement with Arsenal club- an English Football Club to found a football academy in Pleiku, Gia Lai. HAGL has been also the main partner of Arsenal in doing business in Southest Asia. The development of young players in the academy is highly appreciated very promised.
In football season 2009, HAGL invested strongly to win the championship again. The club signed a contract with an American - Vietnamese player- Lee Nguyen; 3 national players as Phan Thanh Binh, Doan Viet Cuong, Duong Van Pho from Dong Thap and the former national player Le Van Truong. Before the football season happening, with this powerful force, “ Bau Duc” declared that “The ability that HAGL will win the championship 2009 is up to 98%”.
HAGL
