Lee Nguyen
A creative midfielder who carved an unconventional path from MLS to Vietnam and back, becoming a New England Revolution icon.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American soccer player·Birthday: October 7·Millennials
Biography
Lee Nguyen's soccer journey reads like a global scout's notebook. A technically gifted playmaker from Texas, he bypassed the standard American development route, opting for a bold move to the Netherlands' PSV Eindhoven after college. His career took an even more unexpected turn with a prolific stint in Vietnam's V-League, where he became a star for Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Nguyen eventually found his true home in Major League Soccer with the New England Revolution. There, his vision and knack for decisive passes made him the engine of the team's attack, orchestrating their run to the 2014 MLS Cup final. His style—a blend of close control and inventive passing—challenged the physical norms of the league and expanded the idea of what an American midfielder could be.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lee was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lee Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Lee's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a finalist for the MLS MVP award in 2014 after scoring 18 goals and adding 5 assists for the New England Revolution.
- Helped lead the New England Revolution to the 2014 MLS Cup final.
- Won the Vietnamese Golden Ball award as the best foreign player in the V-League in 2009.
- Earned six caps for the United States men's national soccer team.
Did You Know?
He played college soccer for the Indiana Hoosiers, winning the NCAA national championship in 2003.
Nguyen is of Vietnamese descent and holds dual citizenship.
He played for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands but never made a first-team Eredivisie appearance.
After retiring, he transitioned into coaching with Seattle Reign FC in the NWSL.
“I wanted to prove an American could make it in Vietnam.”
