Seeing Amorim get dismissed, I have newfound respect for Coach Kim Sang Sik.

Although not a globally renowned coach, Kim Sang Sik once defeated Ruben Amorim in a way that left him genuinely impressed and conceding.

The official dismissal of Ruben Amorim by Manchester United after a string of poor results has become a major talking point in world football recently. However, for Southeast Asian fans, the most unforgettable memory of the Portuguese strategist is not just his failures in the Premier League, but also the humiliating loss against the ASEAN All-Stars team led by Coach Kim Sang-sik.

This clash took place shortly after Coach Kim Sang-sik led the Vietnamese national team to victory at the 2024 AFF Cup. Thanks to that impressive achievement, he was trusted with managing a squad composed of the region’s top players for a friendly against the "Red Devils." Despite having only two days to familiarize himself with players from 11 different countries, Coach Kim shocked everyone by defeating Amorim’s side 1-0.

During that match, Ruben Amorim helplessly watched his star-studded lineup struggle against the tight defensive system crafted by Kim Sang-sik. The ASEAN All-Stars played disciplined football, maintained excellent team shape, and allowed Manchester United only two clear chances in the first half. In the second half, Kim’s pragmatic approach fully paid off by blocking every route to the home goal.

The turning point came in the 71st minute, from a sharp attacking move characteristic of the Korean coach. Australian midfielder Adrian Segecic delivered a piercing through ball that split the MU defense, enabling Maung Maung Lwin (Myanmar) to break free and calmly score the opener. This loss marked Ruben Amorim’s first defeat in a series of friendlies, signaling a turbulent journey ahead at the Theatre of Dreams.

Losing to a "patched-up" team under Kim Sang-sik was once considered an accident, but looking back at Amorim’s tenure at MU, it seemed to foreshadow his struggles against stubborn defensive blocks. While Kim solidified his status as the "king of titles" in Southeast Asia with three championships in 2025, Amorim gradually lost his identity and ultimately left Old Trafford in bitterness.

The contrast between these two coaches highlights the importance of adaptability and personnel management in a short time. That defeat to Kim Sang-sik remains a scar in Ruben Amorim’s coaching record, proving that even a tactical mind from Europe can be outsmarted by the pragmatism and cunning of a representative from Vietnamese football.