Coach Kim Sang-sik will lead the Vietnamese national team and U23 team. — Photo VFF

Football

HÀ NỘI — On Friday, the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) officially announced Kim Sang-sik from South Korea as the new head coach of the Vietnamese national team.

The VFF and Kim have reached a consensus and agreement on the position of head coach for the Vietnamese senior men's team and U23 team, signing a two-year contract from May 1, 2024, to March 31, 2026. The contract signing ceremony and the announcement of the new head coach will take place on May 6.

The specific value of the contract between VFF and Kim will not be disclosed, although some sources indicate that Kim's salary can range from approximately US$50,000 to $60,000 per month.

The primary task for the new South Korean head coach is to lead the Vietnamese senior team in the remaining two matches of the second FIFA World Cup 2026 Asian Qualifying Round, facing the Philippines on June 6 and Iraq on June 11.

As for the U23 team, Kim will receive the best conditions to prepare for the 2026 Asian U23 Qualifiers scheduled to take place in September 2025, followed by the SEA Games 33 in Thailand in December 2025.

Coach Kim is trusted and expected to work with the senior team and U23 team to successfully achieve the goals set for Vietnamese football in the near future. Kim expressed hope that the cultural similarities and good relations between Việt Nam and South Korea will garner support from Vietnamese fans and the media, providing him with the motivation to confidently take on the responsibilities of a head coach and achieve success in his new position, thereby contributing to the development of Vietnamese football.

Kim, born in 1976, joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2009 during his playing days. He subsequently became a leader, serving as a playing coach in 2013 before assuming the role of Jeonbuk's head coach in 2021. In total, he spent 15 years with the team as both a player and coach.

Throughout his career, Kim has achieved numerous titles, including the K-League 1 in his first year as head coach, the 2022 Korea Football Association FA Cup (now Korea Cup), and advancing to the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. He was also voted Manager of the Month twice in 2022, K League 1 Manager of the Year in 2021, Korean FA Coach of the Year in 2021, and Korean FA Cup Best Manager in 2022.

With a two-year contract term, the VFF has tasked the South Korean coach with helping Việt Nam return to the top 100 in the FIFA rankings (currently ranked 115). The VFF hopes that with favourable conditions and highly appreciated expertise, Kim will achieve as much success as his predecessor, Park Hang-seo. VNS