'Kim Sang-sik magic' follows Park Hang-seo, former Korean coach who guided Vietnam to 2018 victory
Vietnam's national soccer team, led by Korean head coach Kim Sang-sik, clinched a historic victory in the 2024 ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup, securing a third championship in the prestigious regional tournament.
Vietnam defeated Thailand 3-2 in the second leg of the final Sunday at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, sealing a 5-3 aggregate win.
The victory marked Vietnam's first ASEAN Cup title in five years, following previous triumphs in 2008 and 2018.
Kim, who has led the team as head coach since May 2024, has drawn comparisons to Park Hang-seo, the Korean coach who guided Vietnam to the 2018 victory. Vietnamese fans have dubbed the latest win "Kim Sang-sik magic."
Following the win, Kim appeared at the postmatch press conference draped in the Vietnamese national flag.
"We faced tough and challenging games in an intense atmosphere, but we were able to win thanks to the support of the fans. I am also grateful to all the players, who never gave up and fought until the end,” Kim said.
Kim added, "I’ve experienced winning the K League, but leading a national team to victory carries an entirely different and significant meaning."
The ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup is a biennial competition organized by the ASEAN Football Federation. It is also Southeast Asia’s premier soccer competition, featuring teams from all 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations bloc.
