CHAMPION KIMSANG-sik
"Oh, thank you, but it was the team's effort," Coach Kim Sang-sik said with a gentle smile when the writer called him a champion.
Mr. Kim has always believed in the potential of the Vietnamese U.23 team.
Photo: Tuan Minh
In fact, the title "champion" has long been bestowed upon Coach Kim by the South Korean media. While South Korean players and coaches are obsessed with the dream of winning titles, Coach Kim has consistently won trophies wherever he has gone, from his time with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to his later role as coach of Jeonbuk. Almost every season, Coach Kim has won at least one title.
"I wouldn't dare to judge Mr. Kim's abilities too highly, but we always call him 'the champion.' He's a strategist with a true winning mentality," a South Korean reporter shared with Thanh Nien newspaper on the day Mr. Kim joined Vietnamese football. True to his champion demeanor, Coach Kim Sang-sik led the Vietnamese national team to victory in the 2024 AFF Cup in January. Six months later, Coach Kim's U23 team won the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. He is the first coach in Vietnamese football history to win two titles in just his first year of coaching. That's Coach Kim – he wins every time he plays!
Vietnam U.23 team wins the championship.
Coach Kim Sang-sik gave an interview to Thanh Nien newspaper about the journey at the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship.
Photo: Tuan Minh
Although coach Kim Sang-sik never takes credit for his achievements, insisting that all glory comes from collective effort, it must be acknowledged that the South Korean coach's success in cup competitions doesn't come from luck or fortune, but from always being prepared. The Southeast Asian U23 Championship once again demonstrated Kim's talent in analyzing opponents, choosing tactics that are both self-aware and counter-strategic, and adapting flexibly to the changing circumstances of the match.
Fans have a special affection for Coach Kim.
"We and the players worked very hard for over a month, preparing meticulously. The players were very diligent, persistent, and listened to the coaching staff. In particular, throughout the tournament, my colleagues and I analyzed the opponents and created appropriate tactics that suited our players," Coach Kim Sang-sik shared with Thanh Nien newspaper .
The strange thing, and also the key to Kim's success, lies in his unpredictable yet purposeful player selection. The South Korean coach trusted Xuan Bac (a relatively new face playing in the first division) for a midfield spot, instead of trusting Thai Son, who had previously played for the Vietnamese national team. He also dropped defenders who had played in Asian tournaments like Van Cuong and Hong Phuc to rely on Anh Quan. In attack, Kim left experienced striker Quoc Viet on the bench, making way for Cong Phuong, a 19-year-old midfielder making his debut for the U23 Vietnamese team.
Doubts arose as Kim Jong-un's personnel choices kept shifting, but the victory of the Vietnam U23 team proved his foresight. Xuan Bac scored in the semi-final, playing confidently alongside Van Truong. Cong Phuong silenced nearly 40,000 Indonesian spectators at the Gelora Bung Karno stadium with a powerful low shot, leading the Vietnam U23 team to the championship.
"Perhaps you feel pressured using new players, because if the Vietnam U23 team doesn't succeed, many questions will arise?", a Thanh Nien reporter asked Mr. Kim. The South Korean coach replied: "Because I'm using new players instead of well-known ones like before, I do feel a little pressure. I've thought about it and researched a lot. Each match requires a different strategy, which in turn demands specific players. That's why I chose them." Just like in the 2024 AFF Cup, Coach Kim Sang-sik's choices have all been accurate. He understands and trusts his players, and for young players, that trust is invaluable.
"Coach Kim Sang-sik's character lies in his courage and belief in his choices. He and his assistants always have their own opinions, are ready to defend them, but are also open to listening to differences," shared expert Doan Minh Xuong.
"Mighty Tigers" on the Border
The Southeast Asian U.23 tournament not only witnessed the versatile tactics and flexible strategies of coach Kim Sang-sik, but also saw the passionate spirit of the South Korean coach combined with a cool head, creating the image of a valiant "warrior" on the sidelines, constantly igniting enthusiasm in his players.
Even now, Mr. Kim still laughs when we remind him of the moment he… knelt down on the sidelines after his players missed a scoring opportunity in the match against the Philippines U23 team. "Before the goal happened, I always had the expectation that a goal would come. So when the ball went wide, it was normal to feel regret," Mr. Kim recalled, adding, "When the players were tired, I simply thought I needed to do something to help them regain their energy."
Images of Coach Kim Sang-sik displaying his full range of emotions, from joy and anger to love and hate, were frequently seen on the training ground. As a player, Coach Kim was always a leader, regarded by his teammates as an older brother. He even got into trouble to the point of… getting punished. It seems that this youthful exuberance has made him approachable and understanding of his players as a coach. In any young player, Coach Kim Sang-sik can see a reflection of himself from his younger days. And because of this, many players call Coach Kim "brother" (like center-back Duy Mạnh jokingly calling him "Brother Six").
Leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism presented flowers to coach Kim when the Vietnam U.23 team arrived back in Hanoi.
Photo: VFF
But perhaps the public only now has seen the explosive moments of coach Kim Sang-sik on the field. In the final match, it was rare for him to sit still. He was always on the sidelines, shouting encouragement, directing, and guiding the players. He reacted when the referee made decisions unfavorable to the Vietnam U23 team, and he wasn't afraid to unleash his "anger," which contained genuine emotions in a high-pressure match. The difference is that Kim knew how to control himself.
When a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper asked if he was afraid of a red card, Coach Kim Sang-sik immediately replied: "On the field, it's not just the players fighting together, but on the sidelines, the coach must also show that he's standing on the same battlefield as his players. I know my actions might stem from a little excitement, but I still have to stay calm. That's the coaching staff's strategy. Rest assured, I try to react to the referee in a way that doesn't lead to a red card. I try to remain calm and control my emotions as much as possible."
The extremely high win rate (92%) achieved by the Vietnamese national team and U23 team in the Southeast Asian tournament is a statistic that demands immense mental stability and resilience. Coach Kim Sang-sik has proven himself a master of psychological warfare, a man with no shortage of "unusual tactics," such as telling the U23 Vietnamese players that those in red shirts in the stands (Indonesian fans) were actually cheering for Vietnam, or defending his players in front of the media, and celebrating enthusiastically after each victory.
But most importantly, Coach Kim Sang-sik created a united and trusting team because he possessed qualities that earned the players' respect. These included clear and consistent player selection criteria, without favoritism, which earned him the players' admiration. He also employed sound tactics, instilling in the players the belief that victory was possible if they followed their coach's guidance. To build a strong team, the coach himself must be steadfast. Coach Kim exuded that aura. A true champion!
At the online exchange on July 31st, in addition to a beautiful bouquet of flowers, we also presented Coach Kim Sang-sik with a commemorative issue of Thanh Nien newspaper celebrating Vietnam's U23 team's championship victory. Mr. Kim received the gift with great appreciation, then opened it to find the article about the U23 team. Although he doesn't understand Vietnamese, he still enjoyed looking at the newspaper, which contained photos capturing memorable moments of him and his players at the Southeast Asian U23 tournament. "Thank you for the meaningful gift from Thanh Nien . I will cherish it," Mr. Kim shared.
Mr. Kim reads the Thanh Nien newspaper.
Photo: Tuan Minh
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khi-chat-kim-sang-sik-185250731221635846.htm
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