Coach Kim Sang-sik talks with Thanh Nien Newspaper about the journey to win the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship

On the morning of July 31, Coach Kim Sang-sik had an online interview with Thanh Nien Newspaper to recount the emotional journey of U.23 Vietnam to win the championship at the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament.

Coach Kim Sang-sik reveals untold stories about U.23 Vietnam

At 10:15 this morning (July 31), Coach Kim Sang-sik will have an online conversation with Thanh Nien Newspaper to recount the exciting journey of winning the championship with U.23 Vietnam at the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament.

This is Coach Kim's second Southeast Asian title in 6 months with Vietnamese football. He became the first strategist in the history of the region to win the AFF Cup and U.23 Southeast Asia. If he wins the SEA Games 33 gold medal, Coach Kim Sang-sik will complete his collection of titles after only 1 year in charge.

Coach Kim Sang-sik interacted with Thanh Nien Newspaper at 10:15 this morning (July 31)

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

However, the road to success was not paved with roses. Mr. Kim and U.23 Vietnam made great efforts to prepare for glory, by practicing hard, studying their opponents carefully and playing with all their might. In the final match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in front of thousands of spectators, Coach Kim Sang-sik and his students endured great pressure, but still bravely overcame it thanks to their "steel" spirit. During the entire 90 minutes, U.23 Vietnam did not even let U.23 Indonesia have a single shot on target.

Coach Kim Sang-sik will reveal special stories about U.23 Vietnam in an online exchange with Thanh Nien Newspaper this morning (July 31). This is the second time Mr. Kim has talked with Thanh Nien Newspaper readers. Just like the first time, the Korean coach revealed the story to fans after reaching the top of Southeast Asia.

Coach Kim Sang-sik thanks fans

"I want to send my most sincere thanks to the players, to everyone. I am proud of U.23 Vietnam. Thank you to the fans for accompanying the team," coach Kim Sang-sik excitedly said after U.23 Vietnam's 1-0 victory over U.23 Indonesia in the Southeast Asian final.

"I know the match against U.23 Indonesia is very difficult, but I believe in the players, because we have been working hard to prepare for the past month. Although U.23 Vietnam faced difficulties and pressure, the whole team fought together to achieve this success," coach Kim Sang-sik emphasized.

Coach Kim Sang-sik won his second Southeast Asian championship in just 6 months.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

"I am very happy to win against Indonesia. This is the third championship in a row. The players did not give up, fighting until the last minute. Congratulations to the players, congratulations to the Vietnamese fans. Even though the stadium was full of Indonesian spectators, the players still played with great passion."

The championship right at Indonesia's Gelora Bung Karno Stadium also helped coach Kim Sang-sik become the first coach in the history of Vietnamese football to win two championships on away field thanks to defeating the home team in the final.

At the AFF Cup 2024, the Vietnamese team defeated Thailand in the second leg of the final with a score of 3-2 at Rajamangala Stadium, and then lifted the trophy right on Thai soil. At the U.23 Southeast Asian Championship 2025, U.23 Vietnam defeated host U.23 Indonesia at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium with a score of 1-0 to lift the championship on the opponent's field.

Coach Kim Sang-sik at an exchange with Thanh Nien Newspaper in early 2025

PHOTO: TUAN MINH

Coach Kim Sang-sik is flying high in the Southeast Asian arena. The Vietnamese team won the AFF Cup with 7 wins and 1 draw after 8 matches. Meanwhile, in the Southeast Asian U23 tournament, U23 Vietnam won all 4 matches. Thus, after 12 matches at the Southeast Asian level, coach Kim Sang-sik won 11, drew 1, achieving a winning rate of 91.6%.

After the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament, coach Kim Sang-sik and Vietnam U.23 will prepare for the 2026 Asian U.23 qualifiers taking place in September.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/10-gio-15-hom-nay-hlv-kim-sang-sik-giao-luu-voi-bao-thanh-nien-ve-hanh-trinh-vo-dich-u23-dong-nam-a-2025-185250731071712702.htm