Mr. Kim rotates the captain's armband of Vietnam U.23 team, making long-term calculations to find a true leader.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's constant rotation of the captain's armband contains longer-term considerations for the leadership problem of the Vietnam U.23 team.

Van Truong played outstandingly with the captain's armband of Vietnam U.23 team in the 2026 U.23 Asia qualifiers

Photo: Minh Tu

Rotate captain of U.23 Vietnam

At the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asian tournament, Khuat Van Khang was given the captain's armband by coach Kim Sang-sik of U.23 Vietnam, with an outstanding performance: opening the goal account for the team, and assisting his teammates to score.

In Indonesia, when Van Khang was relieved of his captaincy, the captaincy was given to Ly Duc, a prominent central defender in HAGL's shirt who transferred to play for the Hanoi Police Club this season.

On the field, Ly Duc also left his mark with a strong defensive style, effective competition, good aerial combat and contributed 1 goal for U.23 Vietnam.

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Van Khang is the captain of Vietnam U.23 team at the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

However, in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers at Viet Tri Stadium, midfielder Van Truong was given the captain's armband by Mr. Kim. In case a Hanoi FC player is absent from the field, center-back Hieu Minh will take on the responsibility.

In fact, up to now, Mr. Kim has determined that the executive committee of U.23 Vietnam will include captain Van Truong and vice-captain Hieu Minh. Previously, in 2 friendly matches with U.23 Taiwan at Ba Ria Stadium before flying to Indonesia to participate in the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament, Le Viktor also wore the captain's armband.

Mr. Kim is looking for a leader for U.23 Vietnam.

During his nearly 1.5 years working in Vietnam, Mr. Kim has always been very decisive in personnel matters. Therefore, the fact that the captaincy of the U.23 Vietnam team has been handed over to many people shows that the Korean coach is still experimenting and looking for the right person.

Or in a way, Mr. Kim wants the pillars to take turns understanding their responsibilities better when taking turns wearing the captain's armband, to become more mature and stronger in thinking and thinking outside of football expertise.

Hieu Minh's solid play helps U.23 Vietnam keep a clean sheet in 3 matches of the 2026 U.23 Asia qualifiers

Photo: Minh Tu

Reality on the field shows that Van Truong is a strong candidate for the role of captain of U.23 Vietnam when he is well-versed in the role of "carrying the burden" in the middle of the field, both in long-range defense and connecting the lines.

In particular, his strong fighting spirit and constant presence at hot spots help Van Truong become a reliable support for his teammates, helping to balance the U.23 Vietnam team's playing style.

Hieu Minh is less prominent than Van Truong, but comes from the special position of central defender more, because in the last 7 official matches, U.23 Vietnam has actively played to suffocate the opponents, so the defense has had few opportunities to "show up".

Ly Duc used to wear the captain's armband of U.23 Vietnam team, replacing Van Khang.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

But the ability to participate in the attack with 2 goals in the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asia tournament, good aerial combat, and alertly managing the defense in the center position of 3 central defenders promises to help Hieu Minh play an increasingly important role in U.23 Vietnam.

In particular, the beautiful image of Hieu Minh sharing a bottle of water and patting an Indonesian player on the shoulder in a tense atmosphere at Gelora Bung Karno posted by the Organizing Committee of the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament helped him receive a lot of sympathy for his fair-play attitude and focus on playing football.

On the attack line, Van Khang, Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan still play important roles but they have in common that they are quite "gentle". Khuat Van Khang has a personality quite similar to Quang Hai, very good at creating but quite quiet, not the type of leader who "takes care" of his teammates.

Van Truong is one of the most energetic players of U.23 Vietnam.

Photo: Minh Tu

Ly Duc is also a name that can become an important link in both expertise and playing personality, but the number 3 center back is sometimes a bit too combative and will need to learn how to react more cleverly and cunningly.

Ahead of U.23 Vietnam will be a training session at the FIFA Days in October, before gathering in November to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games in December in Thailand, followed by the 2026 U.23 Asia in January 2026.

From now until then, coach Kim Sang-sik will decide on the official staff, with the captain and vice-captain for U.23 Vietnam. Hopefully, through the experience of V-League, the candidates will become more solid and stronger to take on the assigned responsibilities well.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-kim-xoay-tua-bang-doi-truong-u23-viet-nam-tinh-toan-dai-hoi-tim-thu-linh-dich-thuc-185250921130448085.htm