Coach Kim Sang-sik surprises with Vietnam's 'super sub'

Rather than selecting several seasoned forwards, Coach Kim Sang-sik has surprisingly offered an opportunity to Pham Gia Hung, a striker anticipated to serve as Vietnam's "super substitute" at the ASEAN Championship 2026.

The latest training camp of the Vietnam national team under Coach Kim Sang-sik has sparked considerable debate as a number of experienced strikers like Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Tien Linh, and Dinh Thanh Binh were not included. Instead, the South Korean tactician decided to give chances to young faces such as Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong, and especially Pham Gia Hung, a name that has drawn significant attention.

Among the new faces, Gia Hung is considered the most surprising pick. The forward born in 2000 is not the most prominent star of Ninh Binh in the 2025/26 V-League; in fact, he often comes off the bench as the team possesses several quality foreign attackers. However, whenever he is brought on, Gia Hung leaves his mark with abundant energy, smart movement and a determined playing style.

That may be exactly what led Coach Kim Sang-sik to place his trust in the 26-year-old striker. Rather than only selecting experienced forwards, the South Korean manager is aiming to build an attack full of speed, ready to apply pressure and create breakthroughs at any moment in the match. In this regard, Gia Hung is considered a player suited to the football philosophy he is pursuing.

Few know that before playing for Ninh Binh, Gia Hung came through the PVF academy, then played for Cong An Nhan Dan (later Cong An Ha Noi) before finding his place at the Hoa Lu team. The 2024/25 First Division was seen as a turning point in this striker's career, as he scored 6 goals, becoming Ninh Binh's top scorer and ranking among the top three best strikers of the tournament.

Though he doesn't boast explosive numbers, Gia Hung always knows how to seize opportunities when given trust. Standing at 1m82, decent speed along with the ability to handle the ball neatly, he can play flexibly up front while also creating significant pressure on the opposing defense through his aggressive style and active pressing.

That is also why many believe Gia Hung could become the super sub for Vietnam. Although he may not secure a starting spot as Coach Kim Sang-sik still has many attacking options, the Ninh Binh forward could prove to be an important tactical asset whenever the team needs to change the game or find a goal at decisive moments.

The bold decision to give chances to new faces shows that Coach Kim Sang-sik is gradually renewing Vietnam ahead of the ASEAN Championship 2026. If he maintains his form and makes good use of his opportunities in the national team jersey, Pham Gia Hung could very well become the next notable discovery under the reign of the South Korean tactician.