On the evening of January 5, the Vietnamese team won 3-2 against Thailand right at the opponent's "fire pan" Rajamangala in the second leg of the final match of the ASEAN Cup 2024. This result helped coach Kim Sang-sik and his team beat their opponent with a total score of 5-3 after 2 matches, thereby winning the championship of this year's tournament.
This is the first title for Mr. Kim Sang-sik since leading the Vietnamese team in early May 2024. In about 8 months of taking on the task, the Korean coach did not have many "big" statements. His messages were simple but clear. The important thing was that he completed the goal with the team at the biggest tournament in the region.
At the ASEAN Cup 2024, the 1976-born captain helped the Vietnamese team finish the tournament undefeated (7 wins, 1 draw). After 29 years of tournament history, no team has been able to do this in a single competition, not even the Thai team.
The biggest mark of Mr. Kim Sang-sik comes from his ability to use players that few people think of. Throughout the 8 matches of the tournament, experts and fans had a hard time guessing the starting lineup of the Vietnamese team chosen by the Korean coach.
The most obvious was the decision to use two goalkeepers Nguyen Filip and Dinh Trieu in parallel in the group stage. From a "supporting role", when given the opportunity, Dinh Trieu proved his ability and became a steel shield in the goal of the Vietnamese team since the semi-finals.
Kim's best use of players came in the second leg of the final against Thailand. It was hard to predict that quality names like Quang Hai and Do Duy Manh would be on the bench in the final. Instead, Pham Tuan Hai - a striker who had not started any previous matches - took the field from the start.
As a result, Tuan Hai opened the scoring for Vietnam early on. He also contributed to the second goal when he crossed the ball for the opposing team to score an own goal. After that, midfielder Nguyen Hai Long came off the bench to score the decisive goal, ending the efforts of the host Thailand.
The 1976-born coach’s mettle was also demonstrated through his decisive actions before the tournament. Proof of this was that he accepted negative opinions when he ignored Cong Phuong to give opportunities to less famous players such as Vi Hao, Doan Ngoc Tan, Tien Anh, Ngoc Quang…
Mr. Kim Sang-sik is still alert and wise enough to make moderate changes, ensuring balance while still keeping players with great desire and experience such as Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, Thanh Chung, Hoang Duc, Tien Linh...
It is the courage of this captain that has helped us realize that the Vietnamese national championship (V.League) still has many quality players. Perhaps, no one expected much from new faces like Doan Ngoc Tan, Nguyen Van Vi or goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu when they were selected by Mr. Kim Sang-sik before the tournament. But now, all have become heroes.
One of the factors that helped Vietnam win the 2024 ASEAN Cup championship is solidarity. Coach Kim Sang-sik is friendly, sociable and cheerful. He has created an energetic and fair competitive atmosphere for the team.
There, each player's ego is pushed back, focusing on the common goal. Whoever has the most desire, fitness and form will be on the field. But no matter who is chosen, all aim for victory.
After the match, coach Kim Sang-sik called the victory of the Vietnamese team historic because the players overcame a very difficult match thanks to the encouragement from all Vietnamese fans.
Despite winning the ASEAN Cup, the Korean coach affirmed that this is just the beginning for the Vietnamese team.
"We have completed our first goal. Ahead of the Vietnamese team is the final qualifying round of the ASIAN Cup and the SEA Games at the end of the year. I am excited and will consider the tournaments as a new beginning with Vietnam," said Mr. Kim Sang-sik.
