Hanoi, 20 December 2025 – After delivering an unprecedented treble of titles in a single year, head coach Kim Sang-sik is set to renew his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation, having not only met but exceeded every target laid out in his original deal.
When coach Kim Sang-sik first signed his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), both the Vietnam national team and the U.23 side were under immense pressure following a disappointing year under predecessor Philippe Troussier. The senior team were coming off a disastrous run of seven consecutive defeats, while the younger generation lacked experience and was widely seen as inferior to the previous golden cohort.
Kim Sang-sik inherited a fragile squad and a skeptical environment. His contract stipulated a minimum target of reaching the final of the 2024 AFF Cup, a goal that even he admitted early on was far from guaranteed. The Korean coach once candidly said that he would only dare to fully unpack his luggage if Vietnam won the AFF Cup, as that would be the moment he could truly feel secure in his job.
What followed was a golden chapter in Vietnamese football history. Vietnam opened 2025 by winning the AFF Cup, defeating Thailand in both legs of the final, including a decisive second leg at the iconic Rajamangala Stadium. Midway through the year, the U.23 Vietnam team captured the Southeast Asian U.23 Championship by beating host Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno. To close out the year, the U.22 side once again broke Thai hearts, clinching SEA Games gold with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory at Rajamangala.
Kim Sang-sik thus became the first coach in Vietnamese football history to win three major titles in a single year. More importantly, he completed—or surpassed—every clause in his contract. Under his leadership, Vietnam not only reclaimed the Southeast Asian crown but also all but secured qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup. At youth level, U.22/U.23 Vietnam won both the Southeast Asian U.23 Championship and SEA Games gold, while also earning a place at the AFC U.23 Championship 2026.
The numbers underline the scale of the achievement. Kim Sang-sik boasts a remarkable 86.7% win rate with the senior national team and a perfect 100% record with the U.23 side—figures never before seen in Vietnamese football. Beyond results, he rebuilt a united, fiery and disciplined collective, earning the trust and respect of his players through tactical flexibility and exceptional man-management. In just over a year, Vietnamese football regained everything it had lost.
Kim Sang-sik’s current contract with VFF is set to expire in March 2026, just three months from now, with a reported salary of 20,000 USD per month. Regardless of how far U.23 Vietnam progress at the AFC U.23 Championship in January 2026, the Korean coach is widely viewed as deserving of a new deal. He has proven himself as the right “chief architect” for Vietnam’s long-term future.
While Kim Sang-sik is happy and eager to continue his journey in Vietnam, VFF must act swiftly to secure his services amid growing interest from other clubs and federations impressed by his success. A new contract is expected not only to come with improved financial terms, but also with a strategic adjustment to his workload.
With Vietnam likely to compete in the Asian Cup and enter the 2030 World Cup qualifiers in 2027, the national team’s targets are clear: progress beyond the Asian Cup group stage and reach the third round of World Cup qualifying. To achieve this, Kim Sang-sik may need to focus primarily on the senior team, while retaining an overarching role with U.23 Vietnam. Youth tournaments such as the Southeast Asian U.23 Championship and SEA Games could be entrusted to another coach, following precedents already set in Vietnamese football.
Ultimately, a renewed contract would not only symbolize mutual commitment, but also mark the beginning of a carefully planned strategy between VFF and Kim Sang-sik—aimed at taking Vietnamese football beyond Southeast Asia and firmly onto the continental stage in the years ahead.
Linh Trang
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