What is coach Kim Sang-sik aiming for after the AFF Cup?

In 2025, coach Kim Sang-sik aims to help the Vietnamese team qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

CORE OBJECTIVES

The 2024 AFF Cup championship has helped coach Kim Sang-sik have a dream start with the Vietnamese team. After only 6 months in charge in his first time leading the national team, the Korean coach has had "sweet fruit". Thanks to his steely spirit and determination, coach Kim Sang-sik has built a resilient Vietnamese team, overcoming all obstacles to defeat Thailand in the final match. Although it is not the first time Vietnamese football has won the Southeast Asian championship, this is a very important championship. After 2 years of stagnation with failures in the 2023 Asian Cup and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Vietnamese football needs a boost to return. This new phase requires careful attention to the smallest things and the AFF Cup championship has helped Mr. Kim and his students regain the public's trust.

Coach Kim Sang-sik interviewed by Thanh Nien Newspaper

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

After the AFF Cup 2024, the Vietnamese team will embark on a second, easier but equally important goal, which is the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will aim for the top spot in the group with Malaysia, Laos and Nepal. Unlike previous qualifiers, this time only the group winner will advance. Therefore, no mistakes are allowed, because if they stumble, the ticket to the finals will be out of reach.

Mr. Kim Sang-sik and reporter Mai Phuong

Photo: Tuan Minh

If Laos and Nepal are both underdogs, Malaysia is an obstacle that the Vietnamese team needs to be wary of. The "Tigers" failed in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024 because they could not summon their strongest squad (because the AFF Cup is not part of the FIFA Days, many clubs refused to release players). The decline in the national championship also dragged down Malaysian football, but overall, the team is still a formidable opponent, especially when playing at home at Bukit Jalil Stadium. The Vietnamese team needs to plan its goals very clearly. In the context of the Asian Cup taking place over 6 training sessions, Mr. Kim and his team need to maintain stability in terms of personnel and playing style. If they play at their best, a ticket to Saudi Arabia to play in the final round of the Asian Cup 2027 is within reach of coach Kim Sang-sik and his students.

BUILDING THE NEXT CLASS

Besides the Vietnamese national team, coach Kim Sang-sik will lead the U.23 Vietnam team to participate in two important tournaments: the U.23 Asian qualifiers (September) and the 33rd SEA Games (December). Vietnamese football has qualified for the U.23 Asian qualifiers in the last 5 tournaments. Therefore, participating in the continental finals in 2026 is an important task for coach Kim Sang-sik.

In addition, after 2 championships in 2019 and 2022, U.22 Vietnam "missed a step" at SEA Games 32 when it only won the bronze medal. The goal that the Vietnam Football Federation set for Mr. Kim at SEA Games 33 could be to reach the final match.

Overall, after 7 months of training, Coach Kim Sang-sik has become familiar with the national team and grasped the overall picture of Vietnamese football. However, at the youth level, Mr. Kim has only had a few days to coach the U.23 team. The short period of time makes it difficult for the Korean coach to grasp the potential and level of each "rough diamond". Investing in the youth team may be the focus of Coach Kim's training, not only to complete the goal of the U.23 team, but also to find the next generation, ready to replace the seniors in the Vietnamese team in the near future.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-huong-toi-dieu-gi-sau-aff-cup-185250107230922785.htm