Vietnam's national team builds its foundation from the last line of defense.

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) recently decided to extend the contract with goalkeeper coach Lee Woon Jae until 2027. This move is expected to help Vietnamese football continue to strengthen its solidity in the goalkeeper position, both at the national team level and the U23 Vietnam team.

With an extension of one more year, Coach Lee Woon Jae will continue to accompany the Vietnam national team at the AFF Cup 2026 (July 24 to August 26), FIFA ASEAN Cup (expected September-October), Asian Cup 2027 (January and February 2027), as well as stand alongside U23 Vietnam at SEA Games 34 (expected around July and August 2027). He is expected to continue helping the goalkeeper position become a strength for the national teams in these important tournaments.

In fact, since taking on the role of goalkeeper coach for the Vietnam national team and U23 Vietnam, Mr. Lee Woon Jae has contributed to building a generation of talented goalkeepers who know how to shine at the right moment to bring success. Based on his advice, head coach Kim Sang Sik placed trust in Nguyen Dinh Trieu at the AFF Cup 2024, subsequently turning him into the tournament's most outstanding "guardian of the goal."

At the U23 Asian Cup Finals 2026, both Trung Kien and Van Binh, when given opportunities, performed impressively, contributing to U23 Vietnam making a significant impact on the continental stage.

Considering only the national team, the competition for the number one spot has been extremely intense, with no goalkeeper holding absolute dominance under the observation and guidance of Coach Lee Woon Jae. Nguyen Dinh Trieu was the best goalkeeper at AFF Cup 2024, but in the subsequent Asian Cup qualifiers, opportunities belonged to Dang Van Lam and Trung Kien.

In the two most recent matches during the FIFA Days in March, Dang Van Lam started in the friendly win against Bangladesh 3-0. For the home match against Malaysia at Thien Truong Stadium, Nguyen Filip was trusted and performed well.

Through each training session and match, under the guidance of Coach Lee Woon Jae, Vietnamese goalkeepers are increasingly refining their skills, leveraging strengths, and addressing weaknesses. Nguyen Filip, with his strength in footwork, helps the ball-control style of play, balancing attack and defense effectively. Dang Van Lam, traditionally strong in reflexes, is improving his footwork ability, while Trung Kien, though less experienced than his two seniors, is maturing rapidly thanks to the coaching staff's guidance.

Coach Lee Woon Jae brings not only expertise but also embodies perseverance and top-level experience. Before joining the Vietnamese coaching staff in late 2024, he had a illustrious career with 133 appearances for the South Korean national team, notably being a key factor in the journey to the semifinals at the FIFA World Cup 2002.

Experience from four World Cups along with hundreds of matches in the K-League and AFC Champions League has helped him build a solid foundation for Vietnamese goalkeepers. His presence alongside Coach Kim Sang Sik creates a harmonious combination, based on the foundation of former teammates who understand each other's philosophy.

With that foundation, the Vietnam national team looks toward the Asian Cup 2027 with a very solid "last line of defense." Coach Lee Woon Jae expressed gratitude for the trust of VFF leadership and affirmed he will continue to exert maximum effort in his work, closely coordinating with head coach Kim Sang Sik and the coaching staff to achieve the set goals.