Hanoi, 28 August 2026 – Coach Kim Sang-sik has reflected on Vietnam’s historic ASEAN Cup 2026 triumph after becoming the first coach to successfully defend the Southeast Asian championship with the Golden Star Warriors.
Kim has now lifted the ASEAN Cup in two consecutive editions, in 2024 and 2026, cementing his place in Vietnamese football history.
Speaking after the latest triumph, the South Korean coach expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported the national team throughout a challenging campaign.
“I am delighted that we successfully defended the championship. There were many difficult moments, but the whole team managed to overcome them. I would like to sincerely thank the VFF leadership for creating the best possible conditions for the national team to prepare.”
Kim also reserved special praise for the supporters who packed My Dinh National Stadium for the second leg of the final against Thailand, which ended 2-2 and secured Vietnam a 4-2 aggregate victory.
“Playing the second leg of the final at home, the support from so many fans provided enormous motivation for us to win this tournament. This championship was made possible by the Vietnamese supporters. There was a situation when we conceded a penalty. When Thailand’s No.7 stepped up to take it, the noise from the crowd caused him to lose some of his concentration. I sincerely thank everyone.”
Despite the celebrations, Kim will have little time to rest. Vietnam’s attention will soon turn toward the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, followed by preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, where the level of competition will increase considerably.
Kim revealed that refreshing Vietnam’s midfield will be one of his priorities. While praising Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc for their performances, he believes the national team will need different midfield combinations, particularly players capable of offering greater physical strength in defensive situations and individual duels.
Looking back at his tactical decisions during ASEAN Cup 2026, Kim identified his decision to substitute Nguyen Dinh Bac early during the goalless draw against Singapore as perhaps his most difficult call of the tournament.
Vietnam had entered that match on the back of a dominant victory over Timor-Leste, and Kim felt his players had become overly excited and needed a psychological reset.
“It was an opportunity for me to use a psychological approach and provoke a reaction from the players. After that goalless draw, the Vietnam national team became more united and defeated Indonesia 3-0.”
‘Vietnam Is Now My Second Home’
Having enjoyed a trophy-laden period since taking charge, Kim also opened up about his life away from football and the increasingly close connection he feels with Vietnam.
“Over the past two years, my life hasn’t changed very much. I wake up in the morning, eat Vietnamese pho and then go to work. My wife and relatives have also told me that Vietnam is now my second home. Maybe I should just live here—why go anywhere else? But I joke with them that house prices in Hanoi are too expensive, so I can’t afford to buy one.”
Kim was particularly impressed by the atmosphere at My Dinh during the ASEAN Cup final and the enormous celebrations across Vietnam afterward.
“The atmosphere at My Dinh was no different from a World Cup. Compared with South Korea, Vietnam has its own unique tradition whenever the national team wins a championship, which is the ‘di bao’ street celebrations. Seeing people bringing all kinds of things out to make noise made me very happy. People in South Korea also really enjoy seeing those images.”
The Korean coach believes cultural similarities between Vietnam and South Korea have also helped him establish a close relationship with his players.
“Vietnamese and Korean cultures have many similarities. There is respect for elders and younger people, and relationships between people are very warm. I have experienced that through working with the players. I want to build the strongest possible bond with them, like a family.”
Kim Encourages Vietnamese Players to Test Themselves Abroad
Looking toward the long-term development of Vietnamese football, Kim also encouraged Dinh Bac and his other national-team players to consider opportunities to play overseas.
“I believe Vietnamese players understand for themselves that money is very important, but developing their football careers is equally important. The decision ultimately belongs to each player.”
For Kim, however, developing his players is about more than their performances on the pitch. He wants his squad to understand their wider responsibilities as professional footballers and role models.
“I also remind them that they should not only be good players, but also good husbands, good fathers and good citizens, so that everyone can be proud of them. I often ask them whether their families come to the stadium for every match. I believe that gives them even greater motivation to keep pushing themselves.”
After delivering consecutive ASEAN Cup titles, Kim’s next challenge will be ensuring that Vietnam can translate their regional dominance into progress on a bigger stage, with the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup 2027 representing the next major tests for the Golden Star Warriors.
VSN/RPT
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