On the night of January 5th (local time), people in Tân An City, Long An Province in southern Vietnam, are celebrating with excitement in the streets over the Vietnamese national football team’s victory in the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Cup, joyfully holding up a photo of the team’s head coach, Kim Sang-sik. (Screenshot image of VNExpress webpage)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — “It’s amazing – everywhere I go in Vietnam, whether it’s children, adults, or the elderly, everyone recognizes me and greets me with such enthusiasm,” says Kim Sang-sik, who recently led Vietnam’s national soccer team to its first Southeast Asian championship in six years.
Speaking with Yonhap News in Hanoi on January 11, Kim reflected on the dramatic change in his public profile since guiding Vietnam to victory in the 2024 Mitsubishi Electric Cup, the region’s premier soccer tournament.
“After our victory, I heard from Korean acquaintances here that even their business meetings turn into discussions about soccer,” Kim said. “It makes me proud to hear that our success has made life easier for other Koreans working in Vietnam.”
Vietnam, which had emerged as a regional powerhouse under former coach Park Hang-seo, had struggled under Philippe Troussier. But in just eight months at the helm, Kim has orchestrated what local media are calling the “Kim Sang-sik magic,” restoring the team’s competitive edge.
“I started by carefully observing the players on the field to understand their strengths and weaknesses,” Kim explained. “I selected players who aligned with my philosophy of team loyalty and fighting as ‘one team.’ Our consistent approach yielded results that exceeded expectations.”
Kim Sang-sik (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Kim emphasized the importance of “tinh cam” (emotional bonds) in Vietnamese culture, similar to the Korean concept of “jeong”. He cultivated close relationships with his players, treating them like younger brothers, sharing jokes, maintaining physical contact, and conducting tactical meetings in an atmosphere of trust.
This “big brother leadership” style was evident in Kim’s viral victory dance after securing the championship in Bangkok on January 6. “I should be becoming more of a strict coach now, but the players begged me to dance if we won, so I had no choice,” he said with a laugh.
Kim acknowledged that his biggest challenge has been limited time with the players, with national team gatherings typically beginning just five days before matches. He credited former coach Park Hang-seo’s advice about player personalities, relationships, and even weather conditions at away games for helping him adapt quickly.
“I’m here because of Coach Park’s success,” Kim said. “He shares in this victory, and I need to keep improving so that other Korean coaches can have opportunities here in the future.”
Looking ahead, Kim remained cautious about future goals despite heightened expectations from Vietnamese fans. He noted the changing competitive landscape in Southeast Asian soccer, with many countries recruiting naturalized players and dual nationals.
“If we dream of reaching the World Cup finals, both the team and the Vietnam Football Association need to keep pace with these developments in the sport,” Kim emphasized.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
