Korean coaches keep failing, leaving only Coach Kim Sang Sik!

Coach Kim Sang Sik stands as the final Korean coach currently managing national teams in Southeast Asia.

At one point, Southeast Asian football witnessed dominance by tacticians from the Land of the Morning Calm, sparking a powerful "Korean wave" after the remarkable success of Coach Park Hang-seo. However, the current situation has drastically changed. Recently, the Laos Football Federation confirmed that Coach Ha Hyeok-jun officially parted ways with the national team after 1 year and 4 months. His departure follows a series of exits by compatriots such as Coach Kim Pan-gon (Malaysia) and most recently the shocking dismissal of Coach Shin Tae-yong despite his contributions to elevating Indonesian football.

The continuous departure of Korean coaches leaves Coach Kim Sang-sik as the sole remaining figure asserting the presence of this football philosophy in the region. Yet, his "exclusive" status is not by chance but built on a highly convincing track record. While his compatriots struggle with objectives or conflicts with their federations, Vietnam’s strategist is currently enjoying the most successful phase of his coaching career in Southeast Asia.

The year 2025 is considered a golden year for Coach Kim Sang-sik as he led Vietnamese football to claim three championship titles. Starting with the 2024 AFF Cup victory in Thailand, then winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and finally capturing the dramatic Gold Medal at the 33rd SEA Games, also in Thailand. These titles not only reinforce Vietnam’s number one status but also crown Kim as the new "king" of trophies, perfectly continuing the legacy left by his predecessor Park Hang-seo.

What sets Coach Kim Sang-sik apart and keeps him steady is his adaptability and refined management mindset. Instead of rigidly sticking to one philosophy, he balances the strict discipline typical of Koreans with the flexibility of Vietnamese players. While Coaches Shin Tae-yong and Kim Pan-gon frequently faced immense public pressure and internal conflicts, Kim enjoys full support thanks to his tangible results on the pitch and good relations with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Currently, as the "era" of other Korean coaches in Southeast Asia has ended, all expectations now rest on Coach Kim Sang-sik. He is not only fighting for Vietnamese football's goals but also carrying the responsibility of preserving the reputation of Korean football, which is gradually losing its presence in the region. His next challenge will be the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, where he must prove his tactical prowess against top minds from across the continent.

Although the Korean coaching wave may be cooling down, with three championships in hand, Coach Kim Sang-sik remains the brightest "beacon." His success shows that despite changing trends, values like professionalism, discipline, and genuine coaching talent still hold the strongest place in the ever-changing regional football scene.