The generation born between 2003 and 2004 brilliantly fulfilled their mission, leading the Vietnam U23 team to regional glory (winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship and the SEA Games), and then securing third place in Asia with a convincing performance. The success of their predecessors created pressure, but also served as motivation for the next generation (born between 2005 and 2006) to take on the responsibility of continuing to fly the Vietnam U23 flag on the international stage.
At the 20th Asian Games (held in Japan in September this year), although the tournament regulations still allowed the Vietnam U23 team to use players born in 2003 and 2004 such as Trung Kien, Ly Duc, Thanh Nhan, Dinh Bac, etc., the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) devised a strategy to use players born in 2005 and 2006 to build the core team and playing style. The next generation will play the main role, while the senior players (some older players will be called up, alongside 3 over-age players according to the tournament regulations) will only serve as a source of moral support and provide professional assistance.
Vietnam U23 has a well-structured plan to prepare for ASIAD 20.
PHOTO: MINH TU
The newly formed U23 team must rely on themselves, because in just one year, players like Van Binh, Cong Phuong, Thanh Trung, and Van Thuan will embark on a new journey: the 34th SEA Games (held in Malaysia) and the 2028 U23 Asian Championship qualifiers, which offer a ticket to the Olympics. The ASIAD will be the first test for the Vietnamese U23 team to prove their potential, get used to the intensity of continental-level competition, and accumulate experience to reach maturity.
At the beginning of that journey, the Vietnam U23 team will be without coach Kim Sang-sik. The South Korean strategist must focus all his efforts on the Vietnam national team, with three important tournaments ahead: the AFF Cup (July, August), the ASEAN Cup (September, October), and the 2027 Asian Cup (January 2027). In his contract with the VFF, Mr. Kim remains responsible for both the national team and the U23 team; however, the Vietnam national team still plays a more important role. Therefore, the Vietnam U23 team may be handed over to interim head coach Dinh Hong Vinh.
Mr. Dinh Hong Vinh performed well as the deputy coach, sharing the coaching duties of the Vietnam U23 team whenever Mr. Kim focused on the national team. Mr. Vinh also led the Vietnam U23 team in two friendly tournaments in China in 2025. There, the team achieved positive results, winning one, drawing three, and losing two against strong teams like South Korea, China, and Uzbekistan. Besides coaching and direct on-field instruction, Mr. Vinh also recorded the performance of each player so that Mr. Kim could track their progress. Thanks to this, Mr. Kim, upon taking over the Vietnam U23 team, created an undefeated team, winning 15 consecutive matches and achieving many victories. The new generation of the Vietnam U23 team can also operate in this way. Players need to strive to prove themselves to the coaching staff right from training sessions.
The 20th Asian Games will see a highly ambitious version of the Vietnamese U23 team, featuring raw talents selected from youth tournaments, combined with overseas Vietnamese players and those who previously participated in the U23 Asian Championship. Once freed from the pressure of achieving results, the Vietnamese U23 team has the potential to make a difference, creating a psychological springboard for next year. Although leading the Vietnamese national team, Coach Kim will still observe the U23 team through video footage and reports from his assistants to shape their playing style and select suitable personnel for the new phase.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-doc-suc-cho-asiad-20-185260522215442725.htm
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