Today, May 6th, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will hold a ceremony to sign the contract and officially announce Kim Sang Sik as the head coach of the Vietnam National and U23 Teams. The agreement between the South Korean strategist and VFF spans two years.
Kim Sang Sik arrived in Vietnam yesterday and attended the V.League match between The Cong Viettel and HAGL at Hang Day Stadium. He also toured the VFF headquarters and the training facilities at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center.
This afternoon, in a ceremony scheduled to start at 2:30 PM at the VFF office, Kim will be formally introduced. The event is expected to draw significant attention from the media and football community, reflecting the high hopes placed on Kim to advance Vietnamese football.
Kim Sang Sik’s immediate challenges include preparing the national team for their upcoming matches in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Vietnam is set to host the Philippines on June 6th and will travel to Iraq on June 11th. These games are crucial for Vietnam’s aspirations to advance in the qualifiers.
Additionally, as the U23 team coach, Kim Sang Sik will focus on the preparations for the U23 Asian Cup qualifiers expected to be held in September 2025, followed by the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December 2025. These assignments will test his ability to develop young talents and integrate them into the senior team strategy.
Born in 1976, Kim Sang Sik was a notable defender in South Korean football. He transitioned to coaching and led Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from 2021 to 2023, securing a K-League Championship and a Korean FA Cup. His coaching tenure at Jeonbuk was marked by tactical acumen and the ability to motivate his squad to perform at their peak.
The VFF believes that Kim’s experience and leadership style are well-suited to the demands of Vietnamese football, which prioritizes technical skill and strategic gameplay. With his background, Kim Sang Sik is anticipated to bring fresh tactical insights and further elevate the national team’s competitive edge on the international stage.
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