I won, but now it starts → I hope to advance to the World Cup finals. I think I wrote a drama directed by Kim Sang-sik that wowed Vietnam
Jan 07, 2025
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Despite becoming the Southeast Asian champion, Vietnam's A national soccer team coach Kim Sang-sik was looking further away. The Vietnamese national team, led by head coach Kim Sang-sik, won the second game of the 2024 Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) Mitsubishi Cup final at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on the 5th (Korea time), beating Thailand by a total of 5-3 in the first and second games.
It was Vietnam's third career championship. After his first win in 2008, coach Park Hang-seo led Vietnam to win the Mitsubishi Cup in 2018. After seven years, he lifted the trophy again. For Vietnam, he recently won two Mitsubishi Cups with the South Korean coach. Coach Kim, who gave Vietnam the Southeast Asian championship for the first time in seven years, won seven wins in this tournament and even won the first seven wins in the history of the Mitsubishi Cup.
"I'm happy to win the Mitsubishi Cup, called the Southeast Asian World Cup," Kim said. "I think I wrote a drama. I was a little embarrassed because such a situation unfolds every moment that I've never experienced before, and I think I've gone through it wisely."
The Mitsubishi Cup was also a difficult schedule for head coach Kim, who has not had short experience as a leader. Frequent movements and tight game schedules could be a drag. Manager Kim said "Condition management was the most difficult. There was a situation in which they had to play several games in less than a month, and they had to go on an away trip by plane four times. I think it must have been hard for me and for the players. The staff took care of physical fitness, injuries, and the weather, and made a lot of efforts to ensure that the players were in as good a condition as possible. The players were strong, too. Committed and followed well for the team without complaints and complaints led to good results."
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Coach Kim, who has not been a manager for nearly a year after leaving Jeonbuk, traveled around Europe and other countries to gain experience and seek opportunities. When Vietnam replaced Philippe Trussier in May last year, he took over as head coach of the Vietnamese national team. Since then, he has failed to advance to the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup, but his leadership has been recognized by giving Vietnam a big gift eight months after his appointment.
Manager Kim said, "I remember a lot about the time when I shook off my disappointment in the K-League with this victory. I think I showed that I'm still alive through this tournament and this championship." Regarding the fact that coach Park Hang-seo was able to continue his success story in Vietnam "Coach Park always gave encouragement and advice at the end of the game. I think coach Park always has a stake in the part where he was able to succeed like this and come to the Vietnamese national team. Even after winning, he texted me and talked on the phone. Thank you so much for your encouragement all the time."
The driving force behind head coach Kim's Vietnam's victory was change. Having watched both Park Hang-seo's success and Philippe Truscier's failure, it led the team's rise to find a part that could grow further in the meantime. Asked about the keywords for this victory, coach Kim said, "I think it's a change."Looking at the success of Coach Park Hang-seo and the failure of Coach Truscier, I thought about how to change it. He sold a lot of products, watched the Vietnamese league, and tried to develop tactics, performances, and habits. The part I pursued with philosophy was changed and I was able to win" he replied.
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However, coach Kim has no intention of being satisfied with this victory. He enjoys the joy of winning, but he has strengthened his will to steadily proceed with preparations for the future. He has also strengthened his will to find players. Director Kim said, `We have to find out. That way, I think we will follow the trend of the times and become a competitive team in Asia beyond Southeast Asia. If there is a good player at any time, we will also ask the association and find him in person."
After winning the Mitsubishi Cup, he also revealed his next goal. He said "I won this time, but I have to go to the Asian Cup finals as well. I won, but it's just beginning. Vietnamese soccer must develop in the future. As a coach of the national team, I have to achieve good results as well. "It's my wish to go to the World Cup finals together."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
