Coach Kim Sang Sik and his winning football philosophy.

During the press conference introducing him as the head coach of the Vietnam national team this afternoon, May 6th, Mr. Kim Sang-sik shared his working philosophy and expressed confidence in achieving the objectives set for him.

Coach Kim emphasized that loyalty and determination have been his guiding principles throughout his career, and he intends to continue in the same vein while leading the Vietnamese national teams.

“I believe no player should be above the team. As a player, I was always loyal and gave my all for both my clubs and the national team. Transitioning into coaching, I managed a team with many superstars, and together we strived to achieve the best outcomes for the group. Now, I hope the Vietnamese players will join me in striving and dedicating themselves to fulfill the tasks assigned,” Coach Kim continued. According to him, as long as every member is committed to victory and united as a team, the collective can achieve desired results.

Before coming to Vietnam, Mr. Kim only had two and a half years of experience as a head coach at Jeonbuk. However, the 47-year-old is confident of success in his first national team role, thanks to his extensive experience playing for the South Korean national team, years of club-level coaching, both as an assistant and as a head coach, and managing many star players. He believes the upcoming tasks will be facilitated by the similarities between South Korean and Vietnamese players, and the commitment from the VFF to provide maximum support.

Mr. Kim’s contract with the VFF will run from May 2024 to March 2026. His objectives include leading Vietnam to the semifinals of the AFF Cup 2024, the SEA Games 33, and beyond the qualifying rounds of the U23 Asian Cup 2026. Initially, he will prepare for Vietnam’s last two matches in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, facing the Philippines on June 6 at My Dinh Stadium and Iraq on June 11 away.

“I have been studying Southeast Asian football and Vietnamese football for many years. I have discussed the objectives and tasks with the VFF, and I am confident that I can fulfill them. I hope to build a competitive and spirited Vietnamese team that will perform well regionally and aspire to success on the Asian stage,” added Coach Kim.

Mr. Kim arrived in Hanoi yesterday, May 5th. He is staying in the expert accommodation within the VFF headquarters complex. After settling in, Mr. Kim toured the training facilities at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center and then watched a V-League match at Hang Day Stadium where HAGL defeated The Cong 1-0. The South Korean coach is committed to working diligently, reviewing, and evaluating players to select the best for the national team in the coming period.

Since 1991, Mr. Kim is the 25th coach of the Vietnam national team, including interim coaches. He is the second South Korean coach after Park Hang-seo, who served from October 2017 to January 2023, and the 12th foreign coach following notable names from various countries.

Coach Kim revealed that he consulted his colleague Park Hang-seo before deciding to accept the offer to lead the Vietnamese teams. “Brother Park is a mentor and elder I deeply respect. He shared many stories and valuable experiences gained during his time with the Vietnam team. Brother Park advised me to strive to lead the players to form a good, united, and successful team,” shared the new Vietnam national team coach.

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