Striker Le Cong Vinh will return to his former club, Song Lam Nghe An, but with much lower pay than he received at Hanoi Club.
Le Cong Vinh
Song Lam Nghe An paid Hanoi club VND500 million (USD24,000) for Cong Vinh, the three-time Golden Ball winner. He will receive a monthly salary of VND30 million (USD1,428), the same pay other key players in the club receive, such as Au Van Hoan and Van Binh.
Nguyen Hong Thanh, General Director of Song Lam Nghe An Football Joint Stock Company, said the club’s budget was very limited, and they were fighting to retain key players. After careful consideration, the club decided to offer Cong Vinh an opportunity because of his skill and enthusiasm for the game.
His new contract could be extended pending his performance next season, Thanh added.
“I am very happy to come back to Song Lam Nghe An. I was originally trained at this club, so I believe that I will quickly be able to reintegrate myself and adapt to their style and environment," Vinh said. His number in the new club will be 89.
Vinh was previously the highest-paid player in the entire V-League.
After the 2008 season ended, Cong Vinh left Song Lam Nghe An to sign a three-year contract for VND7 billion (USD333,000) with Hanoi T&T, translating to a monthly salary of nearly VND50 million.
Finishing the contract with Hanoi T&T, Vinh moved to Hanoi Club under a VND13 billion (USD619,047) contract, which came to a monthly salary of around VND70 million (USD3,300).
In August 2012, tycoon Nguyen Duc Kien was arrested on accusations of misconducts while serving as chairman of three different companies. After the case Hanoi Club faced an uncertain future, forcing managers halt the club’s operations. This put the employment of many players, including Cong Vinh, at risk.
The transfer of Cong Vinh to Song Lam Nghe An, under the on-year contract, will help ease the financial pressure still facing Hanoi Club financial pressure.