All three victories came against strong rivals and, notably, on hostile away grounds - highlighting the new identity, stature, and maturity of Vietnamese football.

At the senior level, the Vietnamese national team triumphed in the ASEAN Cup, defeating arch-rivals Thailand right at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

Winning on Thailand’s home turf not only secured the championship but also reaffirmed Vietnam’s status as Southeast Asia’s top football team at present.

At the youth level, the U23 team brought home pride by winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship. In a tense final, Vietnam overcame host Indonesia at the fiery Gelora Bung Karno Stadium - showcasing grit and mental strength among the new generation of Vietnamese footballers.

The emotional climax of the year came with Vietnam’s men’s football team winning gold at the 33rd SEA Games.

The U22 team staged a dramatic comeback against hosts Thailand after going down early in the match, capturing the SEA Games gold medal for the third time - a win symbolic of Vietnam’s indomitable will and fighting spirit.

Behind this string of successes stands head coach Kim Sang Sik, whose fingerprints are all over Vietnam’s 2025 football renaissance.

The South Korean tactician made history as the first coach to guide Vietnamese football to three major titles in a single calendar year.

His tactical flexibility, ability to inspire players, and belief in the inner strength of Vietnamese footballers made Kim Sang Sik a symbol of a new era, igniting greater hopes for Vietnam’s ambitions on the continental stage.

Thien Binh