Coach Kim Sang-sik made surprising comments about Vietnamese-American midfielder Tran Thanh Trung, wanting U.23 Vietnam to...

Coach Kim Sang-sik shared that he and his assistant had researched and analyzed player Tran Thanh Trung before he returned home, to come to the decision to call the Vietnamese-American midfielder to the U.23 Vietnam team.

Coach Kim Sang-sik wants to evaluate Tran Thanh Trung more carefully.

Vietnam U.23 will gather again at the end of August to prepare for 3 matches in the 2026 AFC U.23 qualifiers from September 3 to September 9. Specifically, in Group C, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will face Bangladesh U.23 on September 3, Singapore U.23 on September 6 and Yemen U.23 on September 9. All matches will take place at 7 p.m. at Viet Tri Stadium, Phu Tho Province.

To prepare for the U.23 Asian qualifiers, coach Kim Sang-sik recalled the squad that won the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asian Championship, with players such as goalkeeper Trung Kien, Van Binh, defenders Hieu Minh, Anh Quan, Van Ha, Ly Duc, Nhat Minh, midfielders Xuan Truong, Xuan Bac, Cong Phuong, Phi Hoang, Van Thuan, Le Viktor, and strikers Quoc Viet, Dinh Bac, Ngoc My.

Thanh Trung (right) in Ninh Binh FC shirt

PHOTO: NINH BINH FC

Notably, overseas Vietnamese midfielder Tran Thanh Trung also participated. The player born in 2005 was trained in Bulgaria for CSKA Sofia. He played for Bulgaria U.19 and U.21, before deciding to return to V-League to play for Ninh Binh FC. Thanh Trung has played 2 matches in V-League since the beginning of the tournament, both coming on as a substitute.

At the signing ceremony and announcement of the main companion unit of U.23 Vietnam in Group C of the 2026 U.23 Asian qualifiers, Thanh Nien Newspaper asked Coach Kim Sang-sik: "How do you evaluate Tran Thanh Trung's ability and plan to use this overseas Vietnamese player in the near future?".

"My team and I have studied overseas Vietnamese players, including Thanh Trung. In the next training session, I will check and monitor him more closely. I thank the leaders of LPBank and Ninh Binh FC for bringing Thanh Trung back from abroad to play. We need more talented overseas Vietnamese players from abroad to contribute to our homeland," coach Kim Sang-sik shared.

Answering Thanh Nien Newspaper's question about upgrading the playing style to advance to Asia, the Korean strategist shared more about the preparation process: "In the past few days, the coaching staff and I have been studying the physical and health status of each player before announcing the list of players. In the last tournament, we had a successful tournament. Despite the difficulties, the whole team overcame them and achieved good results.

List of U.23 Vietnam

PHOTO: VFF

Through success, the players will have confidence, desire and fight with all their might to pass the 2026 AFC U23 qualifiers. To enter Asia, Vietnam U23 must prepare better, the players must play with more enthusiasm to first win the qualifiers. I thank VFF and LPBank for always accompanying and encouraging to create a successful tournament."

Source of spiritual motivation

As part of the preparation plan for the important goals of U.23 Vietnam in 2025, in addition to the effort to win the right to host the group stage, VFF and coach Kim Sang-sik have built a long-term plan for the team's strength.

Since the second half of 2024, many U.22 players have been called up to the national team to gain experience, improve tactical thinking and get used to the intensity of international competition.

In addition, the team was also given the opportunity to participate in quality tournaments such as the U.22 International in China in March, with quality opponents such as U.22 China, U.22 Uzbekistan and U.22 Korea. Thanks to the leverage of preparation, U.23 Vietnam won the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship for the third consecutive time.

LPBank accompanies U.23 Vietnam in Group C of the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship qualifiers

PHOTO: VFF

U.23 Vietnam also received great support when LPBank became the main companion of Group C of the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship qualifiers. This companionship is not only a practical source of support for the organization of the group stage hosted by Vietnam, but also adds spiritual strength, helping U.23 Vietnam have more favorable conditions on the journey to conquer the goal in the continental arena.

"LPBank's decision to become the main companion in Group C of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers stems from the belief and will of the young generation of Vietnamese players. Through this cooperation, LPBank hopes to work with VFF to spread the noble sportsmanship spirit, creating motivation for Vietnam U23 to confidently conquer tickets to the 2026 AFC U23 Championship," Mr. Bui Thai Ha, Vice Chairman of LPBank's Board of Directors emphasized.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-noi-bat-ngo-ve-viet-kieu-thanh-trung-muon-u23-viet-nam-phai-185250826163548119.htm