Coach Kim Sang-sik is on the cusp of an unprecedented achievement, having reached the finals of three major Southeast Asian football tournaments in a single year. This includes leading the national team to victory in the 2024 ASEAN Cup, securing the 2025 AFF U23 Championship, and guiding the U22 squad to the SEA Games 33 final.

In January, Kim led Vietnam to the 2024 ASEAN Cup title, defeating Thailand 2-1 at home and 3-2 away in the final. Then, in July, the South Korean coach helped the U23 team overcome host Indonesia 1-0 to win the 2025 AFF U23 Championship. On the evening of 15/12, at the U22 level, Vietnam beat the Philippines 2-0 in the semi-finals of SEA Games 33, securing a spot in the final. This achievement will be perfect if Vietnam defeats host Thailand to win the gold medal on 18/12. If successful, the coach, born in 1976, will achieve an unprecedented feat: starting and ending the year with a title, both taking place at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.

Coach Kim Sang-sik directs during Vietnam's 2-0 victory over the Philippines in the men's football semi-finals of SEA Games 33 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on 15/12/2025. *Photo: Hieu Luong*

Men's football at the SEA Games was first organized in 1959. The AFF U23 Championship was initially held in 2005, but became a regular event only from 2019. Meanwhile, the ASEAN Cup, formerly known as the Tiger Cup and AFF Cup, has been held since 1996.

Before Kim Sang-sik, coach Datuk Rajagobal helped Malaysia win the SEA Games in 2009 and the AFF Cup in 2010. Later, Park Hang-seo secured the AFF Cup in 2018, and the SEA Games in 2019 and 2022 with Vietnam. However, during his tenure, coach Park did not lead Vietnam to the two AFF U23 Championship titles in 2022 and 2023, which were won under coaches Dinh The Nam and Hoang Anh Tuan, respectively.

Coach Kim also has the chance to equal the number of official titles with his predecessor Park across Vietnam's national teams if he wins the SEA Games 33 gold medal. However, coach Kim's achievements are currently limited to Southeast Asia. In contrast, coach Park Hang-seo's legacy extends beyond the region, including reaching the final of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, the semi-finals of ASIAD 18, the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, and the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers – Asian region.

Since arriving in Vietnam in May 2024, coach Kim has maintained a perfect winning record with the U22 squad in the AFF U23 Championship, 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers, and SEA Games 33. In 10 matches, his team scored 18 goals and conceded three. Opponents defeated include: Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Bangladesh, and Yemen.

At the senior national team level, coach Kim has led Vietnam to 13 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws. The team scored 35 goals and conceded 23.

Trung Thu