Courtesy of Korea Football Association
Following the conclusion of the second round of World Cup qualification, South Korea is resuming its search for a new head coach for the men's national team, according to the Korea Football Association (KFA). The search comes after a successful qualification phase that saw South Korea secure a spot in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During the second round, South Korea was guided by two interim managers. Hwang Sun-hong, who is also the head coach of the men's under-23 team, managed the team for two matches in March, while Kim Do-hoon took charge for two games in June. Under their leadership, South Korea achieved three wins and one draw, culminating in a 1-0 victory over China in Seoul on Tuesday night.
South Korea’s comfortable qualification for the third round, which begins in September, has emphasized the urgency of appointing a permanent head coach. The KFA has been without a head coach since February 16, when they dismissed Jurgen Klinsmann following the team’s semifinal loss at the AFC Asian Cup.
The KFA initially announced in early April that they were considering 11 candidates for the head coach position, with the aim of making an appointment by mid-May. By the end of April, the candidate list had been narrowed to three, all of whom were foreign nationals.
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| ▲ Courtesy of Korea Football Association |
One of the notable candidates was Jesse Marsch, the former Leeds United manager, who was reportedly in negotiations with the KFA. However, Marsch eventually accepted the position as head coach of the Canadian men’s team on May 13, reportedly due to a breakdown in talks over salary terms with the KFA.
Other potential candidates included Senol Gunes, the former head coach of Turkey’s national team, and Xavi Hernandez, former manager of FC Barcelona. Reports of Gunes accepting a three-year offer from the KFA were later debunked, while Hernandez was reported by Spanish media to have declined an offer from South Korea.
With no permanent head coach appointed, Kim Do-hoon served as the interim manager for the two June matches. After South Korea's win on Tuesday, Kim expressed hope that a new head coach would soon be appointed to lead the team forward. “I hope we will have a new head coach who can guide Korean football in the right direction,” Kim stated. “I believe we are capable of winning possession and controlling matches. We need a coach who can implement a proactive style of play.”
The KFA is now tasked with finding a head coach who can lead South Korea through the next stages of World Cup qualification. The draw for the third round is scheduled for June 27, with the round set to commence on September 5 and conclude on June 10, 2025.
Sayart
Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com
Caretaker Managers Lead Team Through Second Round of Qualifiers
Courtesy of Korea Football Association
Following the conclusion of the second round of World Cup qualification, South Korea is resuming its search for a new head coach for the men's national team, according to the Korea Football Association (KFA). The search comes after a successful qualification phase that saw South Korea secure a spot in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
During the second round, South Korea was guided by two interim managers. Hwang Sun-hong, who is also the head coach of the men's under-23 team, managed the team for two matches in March, while Kim Do-hoon took charge for two games in June. Under their leadership, South Korea achieved three wins and one draw, culminating in a 1-0 victory over China in Seoul on Tuesday night.
South Korea’s comfortable qualification for the third round, which begins in September, has emphasized the urgency of appointing a permanent head coach. The KFA has been without a head coach since February 16, when they dismissed Jurgen Klinsmann following the team’s semifinal loss at the AFC Asian Cup.
The KFA initially announced in early April that they were considering 11 candidates for the head coach position, with the aim of making an appointment by mid-May. By the end of April, the candidate list had been narrowed to three, all of whom were foreign nationals.
|
| ▲ Courtesy of Korea Football Association |
One of the notable candidates was Jesse Marsch, the former Leeds United manager, who was reportedly in negotiations with the KFA. However, Marsch eventually accepted the position as head coach of the Canadian men’s team on May 13, reportedly due to a breakdown in talks over salary terms with the KFA.
Other potential candidates included Senol Gunes, the former head coach of Turkey’s national team, and Xavi Hernandez, former manager of FC Barcelona. Reports of Gunes accepting a three-year offer from the KFA were later debunked, while Hernandez was reported by Spanish media to have declined an offer from South Korea.
With no permanent head coach appointed, Kim Do-hoon served as the interim manager for the two June matches. After South Korea's win on Tuesday, Kim expressed hope that a new head coach would soon be appointed to lead the team forward. “I hope we will have a new head coach who can guide Korean football in the right direction,” Kim stated. “I believe we are capable of winning possession and controlling matches. We need a coach who can implement a proactive style of play.”
The KFA is now tasked with finding a head coach who can lead South Korea through the next stages of World Cup qualification. The draw for the third round is scheduled for June 27, with the round set to commence on September 5 and conclude on June 10, 2025.
Sayart
Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com
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