Is there anything else that Coach Kim Sang-sik can't do?
Eight years after their glorious victory at the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship (the runner-up position is always remembered as the Changzhou miracle), the Vietnam U-23 team once again made headlines in Asia with a bronze medal won by coach Kim Sang-sik's team.
Vietnam U23 defeated South Korea U23 on penalties with a score of 7-6, after a 2-2 draw in 120 minutes, to secure third place overall.
However, while the resounding success in Changzhou was marked by a moment of collective triumph over superior strength, a tenacious counter-attack against Asia's most powerful "battleships," this year's bronze medal no longer carries the cloak of a miracle.
Vietnam U23 has turned the impossible into the possible.
PHOTO: TED TRAN TV
Because the Vietnam U23 team achieved success with the demeanor of an Asian powerhouse. Coach Kim's players won 5 out of 6 matches in this year's tournament (more than in the previous 5 finals combined), defeating strong teams like South Korea U23, UAE U23, Saudi Arabia U23, and Jordan U23 with a fair and attractive attacking style. The Vietnam U23 team didn't just passively defend and wait for opportunities; they played to the best of their ability.
The image of Dinh Bac dribbling through the defense and then releasing a perfectly timed pass for Quoc Viet to shoot and score against South Korea U23 is the "rhythm" of the new era of Vietnam U23. Under pressure from South Korea, Vietnam U23 remained calm and launched attacks with quick, precise passing sequences. Every decision under pressure was made quickly and accurately.
Coach Kim Sang-sik pays tribute to the Vietnam U23 team after their victory, with Cao Van Binh named Man of the Match.
Of the six goals Vietnam U23 scored against South Korea U23, UAE U23, and Saudi Arabia U23, five came from open play, with well-organized and scientifically executed attacks from open situations. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team didn't wait for victory; they rose up to fight for glory.
Despite fighting for 30 minutes with a man down, their physical condition deteriorating, and facing a South Korea U23 team desperate for a win, the Vietnam U23 team still showed great resilience and overcame the challenge.
Coach Kim Sang-sik is incredibly talented.
PHOTO: TED TRAN TV
Thirty minutes of glorious play, culminating in a flawless penalty shootout (successfully converting all seven penalties), was a fitting end for a generation of players who possessed exceptional technique, footballing intelligence, a touch of audacity, and a golden mentality.
A generation that triumphed through sheer skill, but also managed to take fans on an emotional rollercoaster. A generation that instilled the belief that, after nearly half a decade, Vietnamese football is ready to return to the Asian stage once again.
Level
In just seven months of training, coach Kim Sang-sik has molded a "generation of miracles".
Prior to the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship, Kim had already led the Vietnam U-23 team to victory in the 2025 Southeast Asian U-23 Championship, followed by the 33rd SEA Games. A streak of 11 wins across all competitions is an impressive statistic, but it's concentrated in Southeast Asia, a region previously conquered by coaches like Park Hang-seo and his predecessors.
To truly break free from the shadow of coach Park, Kim needs to make a name for himself in Asia. Moreover, he needs to make a name for himself in his own unique style, leaving his own distinct mark.
Throughout his coaching career, Coach Kim Sang-sik was often criticized for knowing how to win but being too conservative and pragmatic. "Mr. Kim is a specialist in winning, but his philosophy is controversial," a South Korean journalist told Thanh Nien newspaper when news broke that the Vietnam Football Federation had signed a contract with Mr. Kim Sang-sik. However, at the 2026 AFC U-23 Championship, Mr. Kim proved the South Korean football community completely wrong in their assessment of him.
Success comes from dedication.
PHOTO: TED TRAN TV
Where does the conservatism lie when the South Korean coach transformed the Vietnam U23 team into a "warhorse," employing scientific and well-structured passing and ball distribution from their own half, with a readiness to engage in open play against any opponent, and with a consistent, layered pressing formation, rendering the South Korea U23 and Saudi Arabia U23 (former Asian U23 champions) helpless?
On that magical night in Riyadh, the victory against South Korea's U23 team was a testament to coach Kim Sang-sik's class in front of his own country. While coach Lee Min-sung sat motionless in the training area under the suffocating pressure of an imminent defeat, Kim never left the sidelines.
Fans in Ho Chi Minh City celebrated throughout the night as Vietnam's U23 team won the bronze medal at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.
The "warrior" of the Vietnam U23 team patiently inspires and motivates, providing them with renewed energy. He becomes like the remaining "player" filling the void left by the absence of others, leading his students to a happy ending. Just like Coach Park in the past with his admonition "never bow your head," Coach Kim Sang-sik ignites the spirit, creating an indomitable team that overcomes adversity with dedication and a sincere heart.
"The players see Mr. Park as a father, and I only hope they see me as an older brother," said Coach Kim. "Older brother" Kim Sang-sik has stepped out of the pressure of his predecessor's glory, and today, a glorious fortress bearing his own brand has firmly risen to prominence.
Watch the entire 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship on TV360 at https://tv360.vn. Enjoy a smooth multi-platform experience, rewind and replay, and free Viettel 4G/5G data.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ngay-hlv-kim-sang-sik-buoc-khoi-cai-bong-cua-thay-park-hang-seo-viet-nam-xin-cam-on-hai-hlv-dai-tai-18526012409282847.htm
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