South Korean coach Kim wants to win every tournament with Vietnam

Coach Kim signed a contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) from May 2024 to March 2026. His spell corresponds to the 2024 AFF Cup, 2025 SEA Games and the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

"I want to win every tournament with Vietnam," Kim said. "We are preparing plenty to win the 2024 AFF Cup."

From Kim's point of view, if the coach's stint is short, he needs to focus on immediate results rather than long-term strategies, meaning young players are for the future, while experienced players are for the present.

"The top priority is results, not transition," he said in the interview last week. "A coach only has one or two years of work, unlike someone who has 5 or 10 years. But a great coach needs to produce results in any situation."

Vietnam's 2026 World Cup dream was shattered by Kim's predecessor Philippe Troussier. When Kim came in and coached the last two matches of Vietnam in the second qualifying round, the team no longer had the right to decide their fate. Despite their best efforts, Vietnam still had to watch Indonesia and Iraq advance to the next qualifying round.

That dream will have to wait until 2030 and Kim really wants to give it a try if he has the chance. The increase of qualifying slots to 8.5 for Asia has given hope to Southeast Asian countries. Coach Kim assessed that the gap in level between Asian countries has significantly decreased and a strong team can lose to a weak one if they are not careful.

Kim also praised Indonesia, led by South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong, for doing well at the moment. He added Vietnam's chance will increase when the physical condition and skills of players have improved.

" I want to prepare a long-term plan for the World Cup if possible," Kim said.

Coach Kim Sang-sik reacts to the referee during Vietnam's 1-2 defeat to Thailand in a friendly in Hanoi's My Dinh Stadium on Sept. 10, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

After more than three months of working as Vietnam head coach, Kim can feel the unlimited responsibility and immense pressure when leading the first national team in his coaching career. The influence of coach Park Hang-seo, considered the most successful coach in Vietnam's football history who brought the team to various regional victories and the final World Cup qualification round, still lingers. Kim said he often visits Park in Hanoi to learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players, as well as the culture of Vietnamese football.

According to Kim, in South Korea, if a player makes a mistake, he is immediately scolded right in front of his teammates. But Park considers this a taboo in Vietnam. Criticizing a player too much in front of the team will not only make that player but also the team angry. Coach Kim calls this a real-life experience because otherwise, he would have maintained the way he worked in South Korea and would have lost control.

The 48-year-old coach described Vietnamese players as "innocent" when they followed tactical instructions well and worked hard. Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong has commented that the golden generation of Vietnam under Park Hang-seo is coming to an end, so Kim set the task of finding more young talents for his successors.

"Vietnam is like South Korea in the 1970s, when players in their late 20s were considered old and 30s were called outdated. But I told the players that we are in an era where we have to play football until 40 years old. If you take good care of yourself, you can play until you're 35."

As a player, Kim had 59 appearances for the South Korea national team between 2000 and 2012, and he helped the squad finish third at the Asian Cup in 2000 and 2007.

After retirement, he coached Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from 2020 to 2023, winning the K-League 1 in 2021 and the Korea FA Cup in 2022. He was named best coach in the league for both seasons.

However, in May 2023, Kim had to resign after Jeonbuk's poor start. Exactly one year later, he became Vietnam national head coach.

Under Kim, Vietnam played four matches, beat the Philippines 3-2 and losing 1-3 to Iraq in the 2026 World Cup second qualifying round, and recently losing 0-3 to Russia and 1-2 to Thailand in friendly games. In October, Vietnam are scheduled to play two more friendly matches, against Lebanon and India.