Hà Nội — Newly-appointed U22 football coach Lee Young-jin has been tasked with securing gold at the South Asian Games later this year in the Philippines.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện in his recent visit to the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) office asked the South Korean coach, who is contracted until the end of the games, to lead his charges to the country’s first triumph at the tournament.

"Our men’s football team have never won the SEA Games. I set a target of a gold medal at the 30th event. There is no looking back. We have to go forward. We need plans to make it happen. Now it is time for Việt Nam to secure a turning point," said Thiện.

Before taking charge of the U22s Lee, was a key assistant for national team head coach Park Hang-seo.

He will be assisted by Park as a technical consultant and Đinh Hồng Vinh who has worked with young teams for a long time. The VFF also hopes to recruit a South Korean assistant to complete the coaching panel.

"VFF has trust in Lee who experienced elite competitions as the World Cup 1990 and 1994. He has the same philosophy as Park Hang-seo. In the last year working here he quietly contributed his ideas and made a strong influence on the teams. He has also won the players’ hearts," said VFF General Secretary Lê Hoài Anh. 

The team will select the top players from the U22 squad who won the bronze medal from the ASEAN championship which ended on Tuesday in Cambodia. 

Lee plans to take in various V.League games to select his team.

Lee began his football career in 1986 and was part of the South Korea team that competed in the World Cup in 1990 and 1994. He later managed Daegu FC in the K.League in 2015

The 30th Games will be held on November 30-December 11. — VNS