Van Khang and Trung Kien's historic treble win.

(NLĐO) - The victory against U22 Thailand in the SEA Games 33 final helped Khuất Văn Khang and Trần Trung Kiên complete a historic treble.

The golden generation of Vietnamese football under coach Park Hang-seo set a very high standard with the 2018 AFF Cup championship and two consecutive SEA Games titles. Players like Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, and Tien Linh are symbols of a period of great success.

Khuat Van Khang and Tran Trung Kien won the Southeast Asian treble after winning the SEA Games 33 championship.

However, their impressive collection of titles still lacks the U23 Southeast Asian Championship trophy. In that tournament, Coach Park Hang-seo's team only finished third in 2019.

With the U22 Vietnam team's gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, Khuất Văn Khang and Trần Trung Kiên successfully achieved the first treble in the history of Vietnamese football. Prior to this, the two young players had won the 2024 AFF Cup with the national team, and then went on to win the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.

Tran Trung Kien (left) - Photo: NGOC LINH

Compared to their predecessors, the achievements of the two SEA Games 33 champions not only fill the gap in their collection of regional titles, but for both Van Khang and Trung Kien, their three championships each have a very unique character: not flashy, not associated with moments of individual brilliance, but rather a comprehensive accumulation of titles across multiple levels.

In a region accustomed to short cycles of success and constant turnover of players, this impressive string of titles holds far more significance than individual trophies. It reflects a systematic legacy and a sustained maturation process for young Vietnamese players.

In addition, winning the SEA Games 33 men's football championship also made coach Kim Sang-sik the first head coach to achieve the most prestigious trinity of titles in the region.

Historically, coach Datuk Rajagobal led the Malaysian national team to victory in the 25th SEA Games and the 2010 AFF Cup, but the Southeast Asian U23 Championship was cancelled at that time.

Khuat Van Khang (right) - Photo: NGOC LINH

The 33rd SEA Games in Thailand was a major test for the Vietnamese U22 team under coach Kim Sang-sik. Defeating Thailand at Rajamangala Stadium in a high-pressure final demonstrated the improved competitive spirit of these young players. It also proved the efforts of the South Korean strategist in transforming the face of Vietnamese football.

It can be said that this gold medal is not just a well-deserved reward for a tournament. It is an affirmation that the generational transition in Vietnamese football is heading in the right direction.

When players like Van Khang and Trung Kien can step out of the shadow of the previous golden generation, they will set a new standard for the future.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/cu-an-ba-lich-su-cua-van-khang-va-trung-kien-196251219133403027.htm