According to an announcement from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra signed Decision No. 780/QD-TTg to grant the award to four members of Vietnam’s U22 national team.

The recipients include coach Kim Sang Sik and his assistants Yoon Dong Hun, Lee Jung Soo and Lee Woon Jae, who played key roles in guiding the men’s U22 team to a gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games held in Thailand in 2025.

In 2025, coach Kim Sang Sik led Vietnam to victory in the ASEAN Cup 2024 after a dramatic final against Thailand. At the Southeast Asian U23 Championship in July 2025, Vietnam’s U23 team claimed the title, marking their third consecutive triumph in the regional tournament.

In September 2025, under his leadership, the U23 team successfully qualified for the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. At the finals, Vietnam delivered an impressive performance, defeating South Korea to secure the bronze medal.

In the SEA Games 33 final in Thailand in December 2025, Vietnam’s U22 team staged a remarkable comeback to defeat hosts Thailand 3-2 and win the gold medal. This achievement capped off an outstanding year for Vietnamese football and for coach Kim Sang Sik personally.

Notably, the 1976-born coach became the first to win the ASEAN Cup, the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the SEA Games within a single year.

Dai Nam