South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik guides Vietnam to consecutive ASEAN Cup triumph
Kim Sang-sik steered Vietnam to a second straight ASEAN Hyundai Cup title, beating Thailand 4-2 on aggregate after a 2-0 win in Bangkok and a 2-2 draw in Hanoi.
South Korean head coach Kim Sang-sik delivered Vietnam’s second consecutive ASEAN Hyundai Cup championship, defeating Thailand 4-2 on aggregate. Vietnam opened the final with a 2-0 win in Bangkok, then drew 2-2 in Hanoi, sealing the title. The tournament, now sponsored by Hyundai Motor, marked Vietnam’s fourth overall victory and the third achieved under a South Korean manager, following Park Hang-seo’s 2018 win.
Kim, who also manages Vietnam’s under-23 team, previously guided the youth side to the ASEAN U-23 Championship and a Southeast Asian Games gold medal in 2025. The senior team extended its unbeaten run to a national record 26 matches, comprising 22 wins and four draws. Key moments included Thailand’s missed penalty, an own-goal that equalised, and a late own-goal by Thailand’s Wanchai Jarunongkran that clinched the trophy for Vietnam.
Why it matters
The victory highlights Vietnam’s rising football stature and the impact of South Korean coaching in Southeast Asia.
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