Kim Sang-sik's 'common sense magic' leads Vietnam to historic back-to-back ASEAN Cup titles
Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
- Vietnam, managed by Kim Sang-sik, secured the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup title.
- The team achieved a historic first by winning the championship for the second consecutive time.
- Vietnam drew 2-2 against Thailand in the final's second leg to clinch the victory.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has etched his name in Vietnamese football history, guiding the national team to a remarkable second consecutive ASEAN Hyundai Cup title.
The Vietnamese squad achieved this unprecedented feat by drawing 2-2 with rivals Thailand in the decisive second leg of the final. The match took place at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi, where the home crowd witnessed their team secure the championship.
This victory marks a significant milestone, as it is the first time Vietnam has managed to win the prestigious regional tournament back-to-back. The achievement surpasses even the successes of legendary coach Park Hang-seo, often referred to as 'Shaolin Park' or 'Dae Jang Geum', who previously led Vietnam but never secured consecutive titles.
Kim Sang-sik's tactical acumen and ability to inspire his players have been widely praised, with his coaching style being dubbed 'common sense magic'. The team's performance throughout the tournament demonstrated resilience and a strong winning mentality, culminating in this historic triumph.
Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.