Vietnamese-Canadian player makes history in Spain

Born in 2006 in Montreal, Canada, to Vietnamese parents, Julien currently plays for U19 Fuenlabrada, a team in the Primera Division, the third tier of the Spanish football league system. Previously, he played for the Rayo Vallecano youth team, part of La Liga, Spain’s top football league.

On March 1, Julien played 84 minutes in a match between Fuenlabrada and Real Madrid in the Juvenil U19 Division de Honor. To date, he has played six matches for U19 Fuenlabrada, accumulating a total of 413 minutes on the field. His participation in the Juvenil U19 Division de Honor marks him as the first Vietnamese-origin player to compete at this level in Spain.

Julien Nguyen (C) tries to win the ball from his opponent during the match between Fuenlabrada and Real Madrid in the Juvenil U19 Division de Honor. Photo by Fuenlabrada

According to Vietnam Football Scout, a leading channel for tracking and evaluating overseas Vietnamese players, Julien plays as a defensive midfielder. Standing at 1.82 m, his physique allows him to control the midfield effectively and support the defense.

His impressive physicality also makes him capable of playing as a center-back when needed. Julien is highly regarded for his long passes, accurate ball distribution and ability to launch effective attacks, helping to create breakthroughs from the midfield.

ASEAN Football reported that Julien is in the process of applying for Vietnamese citizenship in hopes of realizing his dream of representing Vietnam national football team and contributing to the nation's football scene in the future.