Coach Kim Sang Sik set a record but didn't receive a SEA Games gold medal like Park Hang Seo?

Despite being the coach who led the Vietnamese men's football team to victory at the 33rd SEA Games , Kim Sang Sik did not receive a gold medal for his efforts. The reason behind this has surprised everyone.

The gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games marks the third time the Vietnam U22 team has won the title in the last four SEA Games. This achievement is not only significant as a title, but also a clear testament to the stability and leading position of Vietnamese youth football in the regional arena. In the context of competitors continuously investing heavily, maintaining competitiveness and the ability to win in big matches demonstrates the correct direction of Vietnamese football in training and developing future talent.

However, alongside the joy of victory, the medal ceremony after the match surprised many fans. Only 23 U22 Vietnam players appeared on the podium to receive the gold medals, while coach Kim Sang-sik and his coaching staff stood below, celebrating from afar. This image quickly raised many questions, because in previous tournaments earlier in the year, such as the AFF Cup 2024 and the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, the South Korean strategist had received medals and shared his pride with the media in his home country.

In fact, the fact that coach Kim Sang-sik was not awarded a SEA Games medal is not unusual, but entirely in accordance with the regulations of the Games. According to the rules of the SEA Games, as well as other multi-sport events, only athletes who directly compete are entitled to official medals. Football is no exception to this rule, although the role of the coach and coaching staff is extremely important.

At major sporting events like the Olympics or the Asian Games, coaches are not awarded medals like athletes. Instead, they are usually honored with other forms of recognition such as certificates, commemorative plaques, or individual awards from the federation, national Olympic committee, or organizing committee. This is considered professional recognition and honor, rather than a direct reward for their performance in competition.

In the past, the medal awarding system in football at the SEA Games has been somewhat flexible. In the last three SEA Games, the organizing committee typically prepared around 30 sets of medals for the officially registered members. With the number of players ranging from 20 to 23, the remaining medals were usually reserved for the team leader and some members of the coaching staff, including the head coach.

In 2019, coach Park Hang-seo attracted attention when he refused to accept the gold medal, instead giving it to his assistant, Kim Han-yoon. At the 2022 SEA Games, the number of medals was sufficient for the entire team, so Coach Park no longer had to "give way" to someone else. At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, Coach Indra Sjafri of the Indonesian U22 team even stepped onto the podium to receive his medal alongside his players.

Meanwhile, in many other sports, regulations are strictly enforced, with only competing athletes receiving medals, while the coaching staff does not have this honor. Therefore, the image of Coach Kim Sang-sik standing on the field celebrating with his players at the 33rd SEA Games truly reflects the spirit of a multi-sport event.

Although he didn't directly wear the SEA Games gold medal, Coach Kim Sang-sik remained the central figure in this historic achievement. He became the only strategist to date to win the AFF Cup, the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, and the SEA Games in the same year – an unprecedented feat in Southeast Asian football. That reward is greater than any medal.

Coach Kim Sang Sik made history, achieving something even Park Hang Seo could only dream of. Hải Dương14:35:24 19/12/2025The breathtaking victory against arch-rival U22 Thailand in the SEA Games 33 final not only brought the prestigious gold medal to U22 Vietnam, but also marked an unprecedented historical milestone in regional football.