The story just told by coach Kim Sang-sik

I LIKE LISTENING TO RAP, EATING BUN CHAU AND PHO

In just 3 days, Coach Kim Sang-sik has agreed to be interviewed by Thanh Nien Newspaper twice at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation in Hanoi. If in the first meeting a few days ago, Mr. Kim Sang-sik enthusiastically talked about the Vietnam team and football, then in the second meeting yesterday, January 9, we "took the liberty" to ask his opinion: "This conversation will have less of a football flavor, because readers are very familiar with the image of serious Coach Kim Sang-sik on the field. So what about Mr. Kim's life outside the round ball, the audience is also very curious?". He smiled gently: "Oh, okay. I'm ready to provide information."

Coach Kim Sang-sik shares about his daily life with Thanh Nien reporter

"I like to dance, and when I'm most stressed, I choose to do some dances to relieve stress," Coach Kim Sang-sik shared about his way of relieving stress. If Coach Park Hang-seo is a typical Korean uncle, Coach Kim Sang-sik is the "big brother" model. A brother mature enough to lead and set an example for his younger siblings, but also young enough to pursue very trendy things: being passionate about reality TV shows or music shows. "I like listening to rap music, but to be honest, I don't know how to rap," Mr. Kim smiled very gently. With a youthful and energetic T-shirt, a clear voice and a decisive style, Coach Kim Sang-sik exudes modernity and approachability, worthy of the title "Korea's most progressive coach" that some Korean reporters once gave him.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Also because of his youthfulness, Coach Kim Sang-sik is ready to accept new things. If Korean experts when coming to Vietnam often go to Korean restaurants to relive the taste of their homeland, Mr. Kim is different. When in Vietnam, you have to eat Vietnamese food. "There was a period of 1 or 2 months, every day I ate pho. This is a dish that I could eat every day without getting bored. I love pho and Vietnamese bun cha, they are so delicious! The weather and cuisine here make me happy," Coach Kim Sang-sik answered immediately when we asked him what impressed him most about Vietnam.

Mr. Kim responded on January 7 and shared many things about football.

Photo: Tuan Minh

If pho touched Mr. Kim's taste buds, what really moved the Korean coach's emotions was something invisible, but many foreigners who came to Vietnam felt it and kept a solemn corner in their hearts. That was the burning and passionate love for football of the Vietnamese people. Coach Kim Sang-sik had heard about that love. But it was not until he came to Vietnam that the Korean strategist could truly experience it. Also because of the boundless love of the fans, being the head coach of the Vietnamese team is always very stressful. However, once the pressure is overcome, the happiness will be so overwhelming that it is immeasurable.

"I believe that the love and passion for football of Vietnamese people is sometimes even greater than that of South Korea or some European countries. In Vietnam, from young to old, everyone shares the same love for the national team and the red flag with yellow star. I saw Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh come down to the field to congratulate and encourage each player. Who wouldn't be happy when feeling that love?", Coach Kim Sang-sik confided to Thanh Nien .

I HOPE TO BE LOVED BY VIETNAMESE PEOPLE LIKE MR. P ARK

Before Coach Kim Sang-sik arrived, the hearts of Vietnamese fans already had the image of a Korean, Mr. Park Hang-seo. Coach Park's resounding success in the 2018 - 2022 period with the AFF Cup 2018 championship, the SEA Games 30 gold medal in 2019 and SEA Games 32 in 2022, or the ticket to the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup 2019 and the third qualifying round of the World Cup 2022... are all record walls that Mr. Kim Sang-sik has to face.

Mr. Kim celebrates victory with his students after the AFF Cup final in Thailand.

Mr. Kim himself also clearly understood the difficulties, when he hesitated a bit and said "overcoming Mr. Park's success is very difficult", and admitted that there was pressure when his predecessor was so successful. But coach Kim Sang-sik still believes: Just try your best, what must come will come. "I hope Vietnamese fans will love me like they love coach Park Hang-seo", Mr. Kim said. Comparisons are inevitable, but he is ready to go on his own path. At the AFF Cup 2024, the Korean strategist impressed by upgrading the players' physical strength, fueling their spirit (the Vietnamese team scored many goals in the second half's extra time) and building flexible tactics. The Vietnamese team does not stick to one style of play, but is unpredictable with many cards up their sleeves.

Prime Minister lifted the cup with Mr. Kim and his team

Photo: Nhat Bac

Mr. Kim has turned players who have not had many opportunities to shine into especially important pieces of the Vietnamese team such as goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu; midfielders Chau Ngoc Quang, Doan Ngoc Tan. He has inspired many players such as Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Do Duy Manh, helping them rekindle their love for football...

"Coach Kim is an extremely manly and upright strategist. He is tough and decisive in his chosen path and always urges us to move forward," goalkeeper Dinh Trieu emotionally thanked coach Kim Sang-sik for his trust. For Mr. Kim, it is impossible to naturally gain the love of his students, but he must prove himself through hard work, effort, and sincerity to unite the team like a real family.

N OUTSIDE THE PLAYER IS A VERY DIFFERENT TEACHER K IM

"I always want to be closer to the players to bond more. There are also players who seem to be... afraid of me, so they feel a bit difficult to approach. I always want to open up to narrow the gap with my students. The team must be like that to be able to bond together," Coach Kim Sang-sik confided. Mr. Kim once said he wanted to become a "big brother" to listen to the players. He learned how to call each person's name to pronounce it correctly. He learned the players' preferences, and more importantly, he truly became a trustworthy person to "heal" the locker room, which had some cracks after a difficult transition period.

Audience appreciation

The moment Mr. Kim put the AFF Cup gold medal on Xuan Son when the team left Thailand to return home, making Son emotional and crying... sketched a picture of a teacher who was "cold on the outside and hot on the inside". That's why Mr. Kim wanted to be like a "tiger" on the field, more fierce and decisive. But off the field, there would be a very different teacher Kim. Dancing with great enthusiasm, listening to music with the players, walking around the streets eating pho, and not afraid to join any game with his students.

No wonder some people in the team said that even if the players play, they still cannot follow coach Kim Sang-sik. The difference is that Mr. Kim plays when he plays, and works when he works. When he works, he must be dedicated and determined with an unshakable spirit, as he has repeatedly said since he came to work in Vietnam. It is this toughness on the field and softness off the field that creates a truly interesting life and identity for the strategist, who will bring Vietnamese football many new beliefs.

WILL BRING WIFE AND CHILDREN TO VIETNAM TO CELEBRATE TET IN THE FULL PLAN

Coach Kim Sang-sik admitted that he was lonely and homesick when he first came to work in Vietnam. "After the AFF Cup, I will rest and recharge my batteries, spend time with my family and loved ones, and then return to work. I want to bring my wife and children to Vietnam to experience the culture here, maybe right during Vietnam's Lunar New Year," said Mr. Kim.

In 2025, Coach Kim Sang-sik will lead the Vietnamese team to the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Malaysia, Nepal and Laos. In September, he will lead the U.23 Vietnam team to the 2026 Asian U.23 qualifiers. In December, Coach Kim's U.22 Vietnam team will go to Thailand to participate in the 33rd SEA Games.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chuyen-bay-gio-moi-ke-cua-hlv-kim-sang-sik-185250109232907825.htm