National player Pham Hoang Quynh has decided to retire after the first leg of the national women’s football championship.

Quynh, who plays for the Viet Nam coal and minerals team, said she wanted to retire at the end of last year, but her club’s managers had persuaded her to complete the first leg of the national championship as she could support the younger and non-experienced players.

The mid-fielder had also been asked to play for the national team during the upcoming asean championship, but she has refused.

“I really regret saying goodbye, but it is time to carry out my own plans,” Quynh said.

Quynh said she would start learning Japanese next month and then apply for a job in the country.

The 23-year-old has led the national team for three years. she won the trophy of the ASEAN championship in 2012, a silver medal at the 27th Southeast Asian games in 2013 and led the team to the semi-finals of the Asian games last year, a major achievement in Viet Nam’s football history.

VNS