After two years of collaboration with Vietnamese football, Coach Kim has achieved every major regional title, including the ASEAN Cup, U23 Southeast Asia Championship, and the 33rd SEA Games gold medal. Additionally, the 49-year-old coach led Vietnam U23 through the U23 Asia qualifiers and had a favorable start in the finals by defeating Jordan 2-0 on 6/1.

Coach Kim Sang-sik during Vietnam's opening match, a 2-0 victory over Jordan in Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 finals at King Abdullah Sports City hall, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6/1. Photo: Ted Tran

Coach Kim Sang-sik during Vietnam's opening match, a 2-0 victory over Jordan in Group A of the U23 Asia 2026 finals at King Abdullah Sports City hall, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6/1. Photo: Ted Tran

A notable detail in these tournaments is Coach Kim's consistent choice of a black T-shirt.

According to the South Korean coach, it was initially a coincidence. In each match, the two teams typically wear red and white or yellow and blue uniforms, so he chose a black shirt to avoid matching colors. "After I started wearing a black shirt, Vietnam often won. I realized it was a lucky shirt. From then on, it became my habit," Coach Kim explained before the training session on 7/1. "In upcoming matches, I will definitely continue to wear that shirt, hoping luck will stay with us."

Following the victory against Jordan, forward Nguyen Dinh Bac sparked discussion when he was seen eating an apple in the technical area. On social media, some suggested the player was simply refueling, but many interpreted the action as implying the "match was as easy as eating an apple."

When asked about this, Coach Kim stated, "As you know, we played at 2:30 PM, so the players had to have lunch very early. Perhaps Dinh Bac was afraid of being hungry and brought an apple to regain energy, with no other intention."

He further explained that the match's progression showed Dinh Bac's energy waned in the second half despite nutritional preparation. The temperature in Saudi Arabia was quite high during the game. "I noticed he wasn't feeling well, so I substituted him," the South Korean tactician said. "Dinh Bac had a good game against Jordan, and I hope he continues to perform even better in the next match. The forward position is very important; it's not just about scoring but also about tracking back to defend, which requires a lot of energy. Not just Dinh Bac, I hope other players also work hard and strive for the team's overall success."

Coach Kim Sang-sik speaks with the media before Vietnam's training session on the afternoon of 7/1 in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Ted Tran

Coach Kim Sang-sik speaks with the media before Vietnam's training session on the afternoon of 7/1 in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Ted Tran

After the first round, Vietnam leads Group A. If they defeat Kyrgyzstan in the second round on the evening of 9/1, the team will secure an early spot in the quarterfinals. According to Coach Kim, the players' quick adaptation and training in the favorable environment in Saudi Arabia are key to their current strong start. "In the match against Jordan, we had some situations in the first half where we could have conceded, but the players adapted quickly and defended well. If possible, I would give the defenders full marks," he said, expressing hope that his players would maintain their spirit and playing style to win against Kyrgyzstan.

Duc Dong