A breath of fresh air in defense: Coach Kim Sang-sik calls up Khong Minh Gia Bao.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has called up center-back Khong Minh Gia Bao of Ho Chi Minh City Police FC to the Vietnamese national team in November 2025, increasing competition in the defense for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Coach Kim Sang-sik caused a surprise by calling up center-back Khong Minh Gia Bao of Ho Chi Minh City Police FC to the Vietnam national team squad for November 2025, a choice aimed at bringing a fresh perspective to the defense ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Why is it called Khong Minh Gia Bao?
From a name previously unknown to many, Khong Minh Gia Bao entered the training camp with a track record showing rapid progress. At Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, he was given a starting spot and played in 8 out of 9 matches since the beginning of the season, thus affirming his role as a key player. The decision to call him up reflects coach Kim Sang-sik's direction of searching for and experimenting with new personnel to refresh the defense.
Profile and itinerary
Born in 2000 and a product of the People's Police Club's youth academy, Gia Bảo went through a difficult period in the First Division playing for Ninh Bình. His career took a turning point in the V-League 2024-2025 season when he played for Quảng Nam Club, making 20 appearances. After the Quảng Nam team disbanded, the central defender earned the trust of coach Lê Huỳnh Đức at the Ho Chi Minh City Police Club and quickly secured a starting position.
Playing style and risk level
With a height of 1.75m, Gia Bảo compensates with his intelligent play, ability to read situations, and fierce tackling. His high intensity of physical contact allows him to be more proactive in recovering the ball, but it also carries risks: he has received 4 yellow cards in just 9 matches. Experience at the highest level still needs to be accumulated, as demonstrated by a mistake that directly led to a goal conceded in the match against Hanoi Police FC.
At the national team level, situational awareness and aggressive tackling are fundamental to adaptability, provided individual errors are minimized and yellow cards are controlled. This is the fine line between a make-or-break center-back and a vulnerable link when the intensity increases.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's personnel calculations
The call-up of Gia Bảo is part of a long-term plan to rejuvenate and increase internal competition in the defense, where familiar pillars like Duy Mạnh and Bùi Tiến Dũng are getting older. This choice sends a clear message: the door to the national team is open to players who work hard and know how to seize opportunities, just like how Doãn Ngọc Tân and Nguyễn Đình Triệu were given a chance.
Strategically, adding a center-back with consistent play and a strong tackling spirit increases the flexibility of the defense. More importantly, it gives the team more options for personnel rotation during the preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Notable specifications
| Season/Club | Index | Value |
|---|---|---|
| V-League 2024-2025 (Quang Nam Club) | Number of appearances | 20 |
| 2025 (Ho Chi Minh City Police Club) | Starters/Matches played | 8/9 |
| 2025 (Ho Chi Minh City Police Club) | Yellow card | 4 after 9 matches |
| Bodybuilding | Height | 1.75 m |
Significance ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers
For Gia Bảo, a call-up is a well-deserved reward for his arduous journey and a springboard to test his abilities at a higher level. For the national team, this is a necessary test to broaden competition for positions, reduce dependence on key players, and maintain the rhythm of energy regeneration for the defense.
Regardless of whether they remain in the squad or not, this call-up has established a selection standard: current form, attitude, and adaptability. This also forms the foundation for coach Kim Sang-sik to continue refining and improving the defensive structure for long-term goals.
