Kim Sang-sik's great challenge, which neither Park Hang-seo nor Shin Tae-yong did, swept the Southeast Asian trophy

Jul 28, 2025

Kim Sang-sik's great challenge, which neither Park Hang-seo nor Shin Tae-yong did, swept the Southeast Asian trophy
Photo =Vietnam Football Association



Coach Kim Sang-sik is approaching an achievement that no one in Southeast Asian history has ever achieved.

Vietnam's U-23 national team, led by head coach Kim Sang-sik, will play the final match of the 2025 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-23 Championship at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia, at 10 p.m. on the 29th (Korea time). Vietnam is trying to win its third consecutive tournament.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is once again creating a soccer craze in Vietnam. 'Saldink' After Park Hang-seo left




The popularity of soccer in Vietnam has cooled dramatically. Vietnam, led by head coach Philippe Truscier, failed to continue the Vietnam created by head coach Park Hang-seo at all.

However, as soon as head coach Kim Sang-sik took office, he won the title by making Vietnam the strongest team in Southeast Asia again. This time, he is aiming for the champion at the U-23 tournament, just below the national team.

Kim Sang-sik's great challenge, which neither Park Hang-seo nor Shin Tae-yong did, swept the Southeast Asian trophy
Photo =Vietnam Football Association
Looking back on Kim Sang-sik's career on the 27th, Vietnamese media SCORE said, "'He has led Vietnam to the finals for three consecutive tournaments at the current AFF U-23 Championship. Vietnam's U-23 team has won two consecutive tournaments in 2022 and 2023 and will once again face Indonesia in the final of the tournament'




Director Kim Sang-sik is on the verge of writing history. If he wins this year's championship, he will become the first coach to win both the Southeast Asian Championship (Mitsubishi Cup) and the AFF U-23 Championship,' he added.

It is an achievement that Park Hang-seo, who caused a syndrome of Korean coaches in Southeast Asia, also failed to achieve. Coach Park Hang-seo won the Mitsubishi Cup in 2018, but never won the AFF U-23 Championship trophy on the U-23 national team. This is because I entrusted the competition to the coach to focus on the national team in the 2022 competition. Coach Shin Tae-yong, who revived Indonesian soccer, also finished second at the Mitsubishi Cup and the AFF U-23 Championship.
Kim Sang-sik's great challenge, which neither Park Hang-seo nor Shin Tae-yong did, swept the Southeast Asian trophy
Photo =Vietnam Football Association
Coach Kim Sang-sik said, `It is not easy to meet any opponent in the final. The important thing is for our entire team to rest well, prepare thoroughly, and play confidently. No matter what team Vietnam meets, we are confident. If you prepare well, you can beat anyone and win this tournament" showed confidence.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's confidence became more certain after watching Indonesia's game in person. After watching the semifinal match between Indonesia and Thailand, he evaluated "Indonesia is also trying to solve the game based on possession, but not as much as Vietnam" In fact, Indonesia is strong in a pass situation that quickly falls behind the opponent's defense line", he said, wary of Indonesia's instantaneous counterattack.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.