Korean Newspaper: 'Kim Sang-sik stands out from Shin Tae-yong and others’

The Korean press believes that the achievements of coach Kim Sang-sik with Vietnam U23 do not fit into the “typical pattern” of Korean coaches in Southeast Asia.

Chosun Sport suggests that the success of Coach Kim Sang-sik together with Vietnam U23 cannot be grouped into the “familiar formula” of Korean coaches in Southeast Asia. Rather than just creating a temporary buzz, the 48-year-old coach is building a solid and significant track record that sets him apart as a unique case.

Chosun comments: “Kim’s success is considered distinct from the “wave” of Korean coaches who have gone to Southeast Asia following the influence of coach Park Hang-seo. Those such as Shin Tae-yong and Kim Pan-gon have also left marks in Indonesia and Malaysia, but have never won championships. Even at the 2023 AFC U23 Championship — where Shin Tae-yong shocked by defeating Korea and causing them to miss the Olympics, the final result was only fourth place. Meanwhile, coach Kim Sang-sik has consistently achieved top results in every tournament he has participated in.

“Notably, this achievement is even more meaningful as many Southeast Asian teams have strengthened their squads with naturalized players of European origin, increasing the level of competition. Vietnam, however, is a team that relies almost entirely on local players”, Chosun added.

Chosun pointed out in an article that coach Kim Sang-sik learned from his less successful period at Jeonbuk Hyundai to “evolve” in Vietnam. He traveled extensively to scout new talents; when in doubt, he proactively sought advice from coach Park Hang-seo, even memorizing and singing the Vietnamese national anthem to build rapport with players.

More importantly, coach Kim Sang-sik has upgraded his tactical abilities, which was a regretful point during his time at Jeonbuk. He focused on studying tactics and training plans, and in this recent tournament, he implemented modern football emphasizing pressing, transition, and set-piece plays. His progress was clearly shown through the performance of Vietnam U23 at the recent AFC U23 Championship .

The leading Korean newspaper also highlighted the achievements of Kim Sang-sik’s team that have caused a stir in Vietnam. Throughout the tournaments, fans flooded the streets cheering “Vietnam.” On the team’s return, hundreds of supporters gathered at the airport to welcome them. The affection fans show for coach Kim Sang-sik is the clearest proof of his successes.