Bui Hoang Viet Anh made Kim Sang Sik reconsider his views

Not the first choice in Coach Kim Sang Sik's preference list, yet Viet Anh capitalized on his chance to force the Korean tactician to alter his outlook at the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

Before the 2026 ASEAN Cup kicked off, Bui Hoang Viet Anh was merely seen as a backup option in Coach Kim Sang Sik's tactical system.

The South Korean coach highly valued versatile players like Xuan Manh, Van Hau, Thanh Chung, and Duy Manh as the top choices for the central role in the three-man defense.

Although Viet Anh possesses good physique, speed, and aerial ability, he was not in the priority order ofCoach Kim Sang Sik.

For a long time, Viet Anh often found himself behind Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung, or Xuan Manh in the competition for a center-back spot. But the 2026 ASEAN Cup is changing all that.

Viet Anh was not used in the friendly against Myanmar, the opening match against Timor-Leste, or the encounter with Singapore. However, when the opportunity came, the 1999-born center-back grasped it with remarkable consistency.

Viet Anh is demonstrating exactly what Kim Sang Sik needs most from a center-back: composure, covering ability, and strength in one-on-one situations. The 3-0 win over Indonesia is clear evidence.

In the 27th minute, Viet Anh suffered a cut eyelid and bleeding after an aerial duel with Mitchell Baker. Instead of leaving the pitch, the Hanoi Police center-back got bandaged up and continued playing until the end. That was not just fighting spirit but also showed a player mature enough not to let on-field incidents disrupt his focus.

It was in the first leg of the semi-final against Malaysia that Viet Anh truly made people look at him differently. At Kuala Lumpur Stadium, Vietnam did not keep much possession, but the defense stood firm against the hosts' pressure. The bursts of speed from Gunalan and Malaysia's attackers caused trouble multiple times, however Viet Anhwas there just in time to cover and clear the danger.

A particularly memorable moment early in the match came when Viet Anh's speed allowed him to sprint back and clear the ball just before a Malaysian striker's boot. It was a play that didn't appear on the scoreboard, but sometimes such actions are as valuable as a goal.

Soccerway rated Viet Anh 8.2 points in the 2-0 win over Malaysia, level with Xuan Son as the two highest-rated players in the match. That says it all about the role of the Hanoi Police center-back. More importantly, Vietnam kept a clean sheet.

That also marks the progress of a player who once faced questions about his consistency in Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad. Growing professional experience helps Viet Anh play more calmly, make fewer rushed decisions, and know when to challenge and when to hold his position.

Viet Anh is not the type of center-back who relies solely on physique. Standing over 1.8m tall, he has enough speed to cover for teammates and reliable aerial ability. In Kim Sang Sik's three-man defense, these are very important qualities.

Viet Anh, Thanh Long, Dinh Bac, and Quang Hai all belong to Hanoi Police FC, and regularly playing together at club level gives these players a certain chemistry when called up to the national team. Therefore, Viet Anh is not just an individual rediscovering his position, but also a link in the Hanoi Police group that is increasingly contributing to Vietnam's national team.

Ahead of Viet Anh is the second leg of the semi-final against Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium. Further ahead could be a date with Thailand in the final. Those will be bigger tests for the 27-year-old center-back's mettle.