The Vietnam national team has a very different kind of captain under coach Kim Sang Sik.

Coach Kim Sang Sik shows that being a captain does not require being a regular starter, with Do Duy Manh being the prime example.

Under coach Kim Sang Sik, the concept of the Vietnam national team captain is being viewed in a different light. The player wearing the armband doesn't have to be in the starting lineup every match. What matters more is the ability to influence the team, connect the locker room, and instill a fighting spirit in teammates. Do Duy Manh is the clearest embodiment of this philosophy.

At the 2024 AFF Cup, the Hanoi FC center-back was once again entrusted with the captaincy of the Vietnam national team. However, he was not the priority choice in defense, as coach Kim Sang Sik frequently deployed the trio of Pham Xuan Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, and Bui Tien Dung in the starting eleven. In terms of minutes played, Duy Manh was not particularly prominent compared to many of his teammates during the championship run.

Nevertheless, whenever the team needed experience and composure in decisive moments, Duy Manh was always there. In the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final against Thailand, the center-back born in 1996 was brought on in the 60th minute and helped the Vietnamese team preserve their advantage. When the final whistle blew, it was he who lifted the Southeast Asian championship trophy on behalf of the whole team.

The trust that coach Kim Sang Sik places in Duy Manh is not purely based on professional expertise. The South Korean manager values his experience, ability to unite the team, and role as a bridge between the coaching staff and the players. After nearly a decade with the national team, Duy Manh has become one of the faces who best understands the culture, responsibility, and value of the red jersey.

Notably, at club level, Duy Manh does not hold the captain's role. Meanwhile, many other national team players such as Quang Hai, Tien Linh, or Bui Tien Dung are captains at their respective clubs. However, when it comes to the national team, the Hanoi FC center-back is still chosen because of the special values he brings off the pitch. These are things that cannot be measured by minutes played or mere professional statistics.

Looking ahead to the 2026 AFF Cup, Do Duy Manh continues to be seen as the spiritual leader of the Vietnam national team. Whether he starts regularly or not, his role remains crucial in the journey to defend the Southeast Asian throne. For coach Kim Sang Sik, a good captain does not necessarily always appear from the start of the match, but must be someone who can create the greatest impact on the team when it is needed.