The award, dubbed the "Oscar of Vietnamese sports ," is a well-deserved recognition of the immense contributions of the South Korean strategist during the glorious period of Vietnamese football's success. It also serves as a significant motivation for him to continue his work and create new milestones for the country's football.
The right person, at the right time.
This award comes to coach Kim Sang-sik after a year in which his professional mark has been clearly demonstrated at all levels of the national team. Since taking over the role of leading the Vietnamese national teams, the coach born in 1976 has quickly brought about changes in tactical thinking, game discipline, and the composure of the players in decisive moments. Without fanfare or ostentation, Kim has quietly built a highly organized team that plays pragmatically but effectively, and most importantly, knows how to win.
The first and most significant success was winning the ASEAN Cup 2024 in the early days of 2025. In a regional football landscape witnessing the strong rise of many rivals, the Vietnamese national team under coach Kim Sang-sik maintained its identity, stability, and resilience to reach the top. This championship bore the clear mark of tactical prowess, where the Vietnamese team no longer relied on a few individuals, but operated as a cohesive, disciplined, and extremely difficult-to-beat collective.
Not stopping at the national team level, Coach Kim Sang-sik continued to demonstrate his talent by leading the Vietnam U23 team to victory in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship in Indonesia in June. This tournament was considered a crucial "test" for training and player development, but the South Korean strategist showed that he is not only skilled at coaching at the highest level, but also very adept at developing young players. Under his guidance, the Vietnam U23 team played confidently, disciplined, and clearly showed maturity in tactical thinking.
Just three months after winning the regional championship, coach Kim Sang-sik led the Vietnam U23 team to a perfect record in the 2026 U23 Asian Championship qualifiers. The pinnacle of this brilliant run was the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. This title holds great significance, as the SEA Games is always the most high-pressure competition for Vietnamese football.
Under immense pressure from fans, coach Kim Sang-sik and his players overcame the challenge with composure, confidence, and composure. The victory on the home ground of their rival Thailand not only affirmed Vietnam's position as the number one football team in the region but also demonstrated the South Korean coach's excellent ability to manage the players' psychology.
Following their success, the South Korean strategist and his players recently won the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Although this achievement is not counted towards the criteria for the 2025 Victory Cup, it further confirms Coach Kim Sang-sik's tactical prowess and his affinity for Vietnamese football.
Motivation to keep striving
The "Best Foreign Expert of 2025" award at the 2025 Victory Cup is the result of a foreign strategist who knows how to adapt to the Vietnamese football environment, understands the culture, understands the people, and especially knows how to maximize the potential of the players. Coach Kim Sang-sik does not rigidly impose his football philosophy, but flexibly adjusts it to suit the team's strength and each specific opponent.
Previously, Coach Kim Sang-sik was also honored with the title of "Outstanding Coach of the Year" at the "Outstanding Athlete and Coach of the Year 2025" national awards. The continuous receipt of these prestigious awards demonstrates the high regard that experts, sports administrators, and fans have for this strategist. This is clear evidence that his success is not a fleeting phenomenon, but the result of a serious, scientific , and dedicated work process.
What sets Coach Kim Sang-sik apart is his quiet yet effective work style. He avoids attention-grabbing statements, doesn't put himself above the team, and always emphasizes the roles of the players and coaching staff. For Coach Kim, victory is the collective effort of the entire team, while he himself is merely a behind-the-scenes coordinator, connector, and inspirer.
Therefore, the awards that coach Kim Sang-sik has received recently are entirely deserved. This is not only recognition of his coaching talent, but also an affirmation of the correctness of the strategy for developing Vietnamese football, placing trust in a highly capable and dedicated foreign expert.
More importantly, this series of successes has greatly motivated coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnamese national teams to aim for higher milestones. Ahead is the crucial match against Malaysia in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup in March, where the challenge will undoubtedly be tougher. Further ahead is the ASEAN Cup in July, where Kim and his players will face considerable pressure in defending their title. Becoming champions is difficult, but maintaining that position is even more challenging. Coach Kim Sang-sik understands this better than anyone.
Certainly, the road ahead is full of challenges, but coach Kim Sang-sik has every reason to continue hoping for success. What he has achieved so far is not a matter of temporary luck, but the result of a serious, scientific, and dedicated work process.
And with that foundation, Vietnamese football has every right to believe that, under the leadership of coach Kim Sang-sik, the journey to conquer even higher milestones is still wide open ahead.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/nen-tang-de-vuon-xa-202520.html
![[Photo] Coc Ly market bustling on the eve of Tet](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/402x226/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/02/14/1771062261424_baolaocai-br_img-6457-jpg.webp)
Comment (0)