The Vietnamese national team officially has a new coach.
(Baonghean.vn) - The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has officially announced the head coach for the Vietnam National Team and the Vietnam U23 Team.
On the morning of May 3rd, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Mr. Kim Sang Sik (a South Korean national) reached an agreement regarding the head coach position for the Vietnam Men's National Team and the Vietnam U23 National Team, in a two-year contract (from May 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2026). The contract signing ceremony and announcement of the new head coach for the Vietnam Men's National Team and the Vietnam U23 National Team will be held on May 6th.
After a period of intensive research and review of candidate profiles, the VFF has initiated contact with potential candidates for the head coach position of the Vietnam Men's National Team and the Vietnam U23 National Team, including Mr. Kim Sang-sik.
In a spirit of cooperation, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Mr. Kim Sang-sik discussed strategies for developing Vietnam's national football teams and reached a mutual agreement on a two-year contract. Accordingly, Mr. Kim Sang-sik will serve as the head coach of the Vietnam Men's National Team and the U23 National Team, participating in football events and international tournaments from May 2024 to March 2026.
The first task for the new South Korean head coach is to lead the Vietnam National Team in the remaining two matches of the second round of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifiers, against the Philippines National Team at home on June 6, 2024, and against the Iraq National Team away on June 11, 2024 (early morning of June 12, 2024, Vietnam time).
For the Vietnam U23 national team, the new head coach Kim Sang-sik will also be given the best possible conditions to prepare for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship Qualifiers, scheduled to take place in September 2025, and subsequently the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand in December 2025.
Coach Kim Sang-sik is trusted and expected to lead the Vietnamese Men's National Team and the U23 National Team towards successfully achieving the goals set for Vietnamese football in the coming period.
Mr. Kim Sang-sik also expressed his hope that, given the cultural similarities and good relations between Vietnam and South Korea, he would receive encouragement from Vietnamese fans and support from the media, thereby giving him more motivation to confidently take on the responsibility of a head coach and achieve success in his new role, thus contributing to the development of Vietnamese football.
INFORMATION ABOUT COACH KIM SANG-SIK
– Born on December 17, 1976
– He was a member of the South Korean national team that participated in the 2006 World Cup and won third place in the 2000 and 2007 Asian Cups.
– Qualifications: Professional Football Coach (Pro) - AFC/KFA.
– Professional coaching career:
* From 2013 to 2020: Assistant Head Coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in K-League 1.
During this period, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Club won a total of 6 K-League 1 championships, finished as runner-up once, won the national cup once, and won the AFC Champions League once.
* In 2021: Kim Sang-sik took on the role of head coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and quickly made his mark by leading the club to win the K-League 1-2021 title and the Korean Cup in 2022.
Notably, in his very first year as head coach, Kim Sang-sik won the "Coach of the Year 2021" award as voted by the K-League.
