Coach Kim Sang Sik 'solves the puzzle' of Hoang Hen

The inclusion of Do Hoang Hen in the Vietnam national team roster is not merely a personnel highlight, but also presents a genuine "tactical puzzle" for Kim Sang Sik. Because, the more versatile and effective Hoang Hen is, the more complex his utilization becomes.

At Hanoi FC, Hoang Hen is displaying near-perfect form with 6 goals and 4 assists in just 10 matches. The 1994-born player scores, connects, and appears in various attacking positions, truly a type of player any coach would want in their lineup.

But the national team is not a club. There, Hoang Hen no longer has his familiar supporting players, nor the system built around him. Instead, it's a collective from different clubs, with different playing habits. And that precisely makes Coach Kim Sang Sik ponder how to use Hoang Hen so that the Hanoi FC player proves his worth.

In theory, Hoang Hen can play almost any position in the attack and midfield. This naturalized player can operate as a central midfielder, supporting ball distribution and linking with the back line. Hoang Hen can also push forward, act as a "number 10" behind Nguyen Xuan Son, or even drift wide, playing as a left-sided forward. When needed, the 32-year-old is fully capable of playing as a striker replacing Xuan Son.

The issue lies in the fact that the current national team is not lacking skilled players in those positions. If placing Hoang Hen centrally, he would directly compete with Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai, the duo who have defined their roles in the midfield for many years.

But both Hoang Duc and Quang Hai lean towards attacking, while the lineup only has one true holding midfielder: Thanh Long. Arranging Hoang Hen, Hoang Duc, and Quang Hai together in the midfield could easily disrupt the team's balance.

If pushing Hoang Hen to the wings or forward line, the puzzle shifts to other names like Van Khang, Hai Long, Tuan Hai, Gia Hung, or Viet Cuong. All are awaiting opportunities, and Hoang Hen's presence inadvertently becomes a "threat" to the starting spots of many stars.

In other words, Hoang Hen resembles a "card" usable in multiple positions, but also brings tactical consequences. What troubles Coach Kim Sang Sik is not just choosing a position, but optimizing this player's maximum value. Because, if Coach Kim Sang Sik merely slots Hoang Hen as a "secondary piece," he would waste the player's peak form.

A noteworthy suggestion lies in the past. Hoang Hen once combined extremely effectively with Nguyen Xuan Son at Nam Dinh, forming a "dual strike force" that scored up to 41 goals, a V-League record. That synergy wasn't just about skill, but also movement and mutual understanding in each play.

Reuniting this duo on the national team could be the key. If placed behind Xuan Son, Hoang Hen could maximize his strengths in through passes, finishing, and creativity, which have been proven. Then, Hen wouldn't just be a midfielder, but the "attacking brain."

Of course, that's the theory. Reality depends heavily on integration ability. Hoang Hen needs time to understand his new teammates, and Coach Kim Sang Sik needs time for experimentation.

The friendly match against the Bangladesh national team will be an ideal testing opportunity for the Korean coach. From there, he can make the optimal decision for the match against Malaysia at the end of March. Coach Kim Sang Sik might need a few more matches to help Hoang Hen adapt to the national team and vice versa; the team will also learn what role they need Hoang Hen in.

Hoang Hen also doesn't have much time to familiarize himself with the national team. He needs to utilize every minute on the pitch to prove his value, as behind him is a long list of names ready to replace him.

Ultimately, the "Hoang Hen puzzle" is not actually a problem, but an opportunity. It's a condition for the Vietnam national team to upgrade its strength, diversify its playstyle, and create genuine competition within the lineup.

The Vietnam national team now has another promising star for Coach Kim Sang Sik to showcase his tactical prowess.