'The Myth of Back-to-Back Southeast Asian WC Titles' Vietnam Coach Kim Sang-sik: "We Want to Qualify for the World Cup"

*This content was translated by AI.

Coach Kim Sang-sik (49), who led the Vietnam national football team to write new history with the first-ever "back-to-back Southeast Asian Cup titles," has expressed his grand ambitions.

During a video interview with domestic reporters on the afternoon of the 28th, Coach Kim said, "I will act as a king's man for just one day. I will not lose my original intention and will prepare for the next challenge." He added, "I am extremely happy to achieve back-to-back Hyundai Cup titles. I sincerely thank the players who believed in me and the team for over two months, and I am grateful to the fans who filled the stadiums and cheered from all over Vietnam."

Under Coach Kim's leadership, Vietnam drew 2-2 with Thailand in the second leg of the Hyundai Cup final held on the 26th, securing the trophy with an aggregate score of 4-2 across both legs. This marks Vietnam's first-ever back-to-back title since the tournament's inception in 1996 and achieves a feat that former coach Park Hang-seo could not accomplish. Including this championship victory, Vietnam is currently on an unbeaten streak of 26 consecutive matches (22 wins, 4 draws).

Regarding the secret to their unbeaten run, Coach Kim explained, "Although we are on a 26-match unbeaten streak, we always view ourselves as challengers. Rather than having any special trick, the key lies in closely observing each player's physical condition, skills, and tactical execution ability. Since football involves constantly changing players, tactics, and opponents, it is crucial to have leadership that responds quickly to changes, clear direction, and easy communication."

On the scene where he personally carried his student Nguyen Dinh Bac immediately after the championship ceremony, Kim said, "It was not a pre-planned ceremony. After scoring a hat-trick against Timor-Leste, Dinh Bac showed signs of arrogance. To unite the team, I made the difficult decision to substitute him in the first half of the second leg against Singapore. Although the player himself may have had some complaints, I carried him out of pride and gratitude for his silent endurance."

Regarding the fluttering South Korean flags on every street and the reactions of the overseas Korean community, Kim stated, "Thanks to Coach Park Hang-seo leading the development of Vietnamese football and culture, I have also been greatly positively influenced." He emphasized, "When I hear that over 10,000 local Korean company employees are talking about football, creating a brighter atmosphere and making work easier, I feel a great sense of accomplishment and a heavy responsibility."

Coach Kim's gaze now turns to even higher goals. When asked about his targets, he said, "Although I experienced the World Cup as a player, as a coach, I want to someday engage in strategic battles with world-class coaches on a grand stage." He added firmly, "Gianni Infantino, President of the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA), encouraged us during our championship ceremony. Our goal is to make Vietnam a competitive team capable of qualifying for the World Cup finals."

Coach Kim, who oversees both the Seong In (CEO) team and the under-23 (U23) national team, will continue his busy schedule starting in September. For the 2026 Nagoya-Aichi Asian Games in September, a different coach will lead the U23 national team. Coach Kim will command the Seong In (CEO) team to participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup held in Indonesia in September (Group Pakistan-Thailand-Philippines). Additionally, a match against his homeland, South Korea, is scheduled for the AFC Asian Cup finals in January.

Regarding the matchup with South Korea, Coach Kim said, "Regardless of which team we face, we must prepare thoroughly as challengers." He added, "I feel great regret that the South Korean national team did not achieve good results in the last World Cup. I sincerely hope they will show a strong performance at the Asian Cup through their determination and hard work."

Finally, Coach Kim said with a cheerful greeting, "Please give us your continued interest and support for Korean football despite the hot weather. Ggeomeon (thank you)."

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*This content was translated by AI.