On May 3, a shocking news came out from the Vietnam Football Association (VFA): 47-year-old South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik, a former K-League champion, will take the helm of the Vietnam national team and start a new journey.
Back on March 26, the Vietnam Football Association (VFA) announced the departure of Troussier and the ensuing controversy over the selection of the head coaches of the national soccer team and the U23 national Olympic team. The Indonesian men's soccer team defeated Vietnam 3-0 in a match in Group F of the 36-team CONCACAF 2026 qualifying tournament, and is now in a worrying position in third place in the group with one win and three losses.
Today, the Vietnam Football Association (VFA) officially announced that Kim Sang-Shik will take over from Troussier as the centerpiece of the Vietnam national team, and will also be in charge of the U23 team's training and preparation. In Kim Sang-sik's coaching career, he has led Jeonbuk Hyundai FC to win the 2021 K-League title, which certainly adds weight to his new position.
The two sides signed a two-year contract until March 31, 2026. In that time, Kim Sang-sik's primary challenge will be to lead Vietnam to the two remaining top-36 World Qualifier tournaments, a home match against the Philippines on June 6 and an away match against Iraq on June 11, respectively.
For the Vietnam U23s, Kim Sang-sik has an even tougher task, as he will need to be ready for the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in September 2025 and the 33rd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Thailand in December of the same year, which will undoubtedly be an important workout opportunity for the young Vietnamese player.
