Arsenal’s Vietnam “running man” becomes brand representative

The beverage firm has announced Arsenal’s Vietnam “running man” Vu Xuan Tien became the ambassador for the company’s Number 1 Active energy drink brand.

“We have found many similarities shared by our products and young student Vu Xuan Tien’s image. I was convinced by the will and patience of this enterprising ‘running man’,” Tan Hiep Phat chairman Tran Qui Thanh said on his firm’s website.

Thanh added the higher education student’s fast running steps and the fact his Arsenal shirt he was wearing was sweaty showed an image of a young robust man who has a dream and dares to make it come true.

Arsenal and their manager Arsene Wenger visited Hanoi July 15-17 on the Asia tour, becoming the first English Premier League club to come to Vietnam. During their trip, Tien as a football fan wearing an Arsenal shirt ran alongside Arsenal’s team bus for several kilometres through the streets of Hanoi to show his love for the Gunners.

He was eventually invited aboard to pose for photographs with the Arsenal squad and have his shirt signed by Wenger. Arsenal then dubbed him the "Running Man", and Wenger invited him to see them play at their home in London at Emirates Stadium.

Footage on the Arsenal website shows players cheering and chanting "Sign him up, sign him up" as the 20-year-old chased the bus through. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny said in the Arsenal video, "It should be a message for all of you guys that if you really want to pursue your dreams, it can happen."

As he became an overnight sensation in both Vietnamese and foreign media after the Arsenal site published the video, CEO Le Manh Truong of the online shopping network Sieuthitaigia.vn offered him an immediate job for $1,000 per month. However, he reportedly declined, saying he had to finish college first.