For fans of League of Legends in Vietnam, the name Bùi Tấn Trường is likely quite familiar – the goalkeeper who stood guard for the Vietnam National Team in two matches against the Indonesian National Team and the Malaysian National Team during the second qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup.
In the match against Malaysia, Bùi Tấn Trường made a series of spectacular saves, playing a crucial role in helping the Vietnam National Team secure a 2-1 victory and being hailed as a hero by millions of football fans in the country. However, if you are not a long-time football fan, it’s likely not many know that just a year ago, Tấn Trường went through the darkest period of his career and even contemplated “hanging up his gloves” to run a net café and become a streamer.
Tấn Trường became a well-known name among Vietnamese League of Legends fans because he is truly a dedicated “gamer”. Besides his career as a professional footballer, Tấn Trường’s biggest passion is playing League of Legends. He even owns his own net café to indulge in gaming and has a close relationship with several players who have competed in VCS under FTV Esports.
At his peak, Tấn Trường held a Platinum II rank, and his two favorite champions are Xerath (500k mastery) and Zed (450k mastery). Back in April 2020, after half a season where his contract with Becamex Binh Duong was terminated, the 35-year-old goalkeeper struggled to find a new team and shared with the media his intention to retire. Tấn Trường also did not hide his plans to pursue a career as a streamer to fulfill his passion for gaming if he was no longer competing.
However, a major turning point came shortly thereafter. In an effort to resolve a personnel crisis at the goalkeeper position (as goalkeeper Phí Minh Long was injured, and only Nguyễn Văn Công was a reliable option), Hanoi FC decided to recruit Bùi Tấn Trường.
Although he was a “temporary” signing, surprisingly, Tấn Trường went on to display impressive form, pushing the then-number one goalkeeper of Hanoi, Văn Công, to the bench. “When the time is right, nothing can stop you,” after a stellar performance at the age of 35, Tấn Trường was called up to the National Team by coach Park Hang-seo for the first time in four years.
Perhaps if Tấn Trường had made the decision to pursue a streaming career a bit earlier, Vietnamese League of Legends fans would have gained another “clown” on their screens, but Vietnamese football fans would have missed out on witnessing memorable moments like those in the recent match against Malaysia.
In the 11th season of League of Legends, also due to no longer having “free time” because he had to focus on competing for Hanoi FC and the National Team, Tấn Trường has temporarily not had time to climb ranks, only occasionally playing a few normal matches and experiencing the “auto chess” game Teamfight Tactics for entertainment during breaks.