The remarkable fortune surrounding coach Kim Sang Sik may help U23 Vietnam make history again at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

Compared with his predecessor Park Hang Seo, the South Korean strategist appears even more “golden-handed.” In just one year, Kim Sang Sik has led both the national and U23 squads to outstanding triumphs.

Earlier this year, despite losing midfielder Xuan Son early in the ASEAN Cup 2024 final second leg against Thailand, Vietnam pulled off a dramatic 3–2 victory.

Thailand scored a controversial goal, but their momentum vanished after a red card reduced them to ten men. That pivotal moment sparked an emotional win for the Golden Star Warriors.

Even after a 0–4 loss to Malaysia that seemed to end Vietnam’s Asian Cup 2027 hopes, fortune intervened once more when Malaysia was later caught in a scandal involving falsified player naturalization records. The result left Vietnam as the likely top team in the group  -  and a ticket to the continental finals.

At the youth level, Kim Sang Sik’s luck seemed to multiply. Under his command, U23 Vietnam easily topped their group to qualify for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, after previously clinching their third consecutive Southeast Asian U23 title.

His U22 team also rode a wave of favorable circumstances to claim the SEA Games 33 gold medal.

During the regional tournament, Vietnam was on the brink of elimination and needed to beat U22 Malaysia in the final group match. But U22 Indonesia unexpectedly lost to U22 Philippines, allowing Vietnam to advance even with a defeat. Relieved of pressure, the team went on to win 2–0 thanks to goals by Hieu Minh and Minh Phuc.

In the semifinal against the Philippines, late goals by Van Thuan and Van Nhan sent Vietnam to the final, avoiding extra time or penalties.

Luck again smiled in the gold medal match against Thailand. Trailing 0–2 at halftime, Vietnam came roaring back to level 2–2 before netting a decisive goal in extra time to secure a 3–2 victory.

With that win, Kim Sang Sik entered Vietnamese football history  -  and even Southeast Asian football history  -  by capturing the ASEAN Cup, the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, and SEA Games gold all in one year, while also steering U23 Vietnam to qualification for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

As the team prepares for the continental tournament early next year, expectations are high. Though Kim Sang Sik doesn’t command as many star players as Park Hang Seo once did, his mix of tactical discipline, preparation, and undeniable luck gives fans reason to dream of another milestone on Asia’s biggest youth stage.

Kim Sang Sik’s two-year contract with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) expires in May 2026, but includes an automatic one-year extension if key performance goals are met. That means he could remain in charge through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, provided Vietnam secures qualification.

Dai Nam