Cheonan: Former Spain head coach Robert Moreno has been appointed as the temporary manager for the South Korean men's national football team. The Korea Football Association (KFA) confirmed Moreno's nomination during a board meeting held at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, located approximately 90 kilometers south of Seoul.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Moreno, aged 48, will oversee South Korea's next six international matches. The Taegeuk Warriors are set to host Ecuador on September 24, Uruguay on September 28, Venezuela on October 2, and Uzbekistan on October 6. The KFA is also in the process of scheduling two additional matches within the FIFA international window from November 9 to 17.
Following these matches, South Korea will participate in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, commencing in January. Moreno's contract is valid until November 27, with a possibility of extending to a full-time role for the Asian Cup, contingent on the team's performance during the fall matches.
The men's national team has been without a head coach since Hong Myung-bo resigned in late June after South Korea's group-stage exit from the FIFA World Cup. The KFA decided to appoint a caretaker manager rather than rushing to hire a long-term replacement before the upcoming matches.
Moreno, who led Spain for nine matches in 2019 during Luis Enrique's leave of absence, has experience coaching clubs such as AS Monaco in France, Granada in Spain, and FC Sochi in Russia. Additionally, he has served as a scout for FC Barcelona and as an assistant under Enrique at AS Roma, Celta Vigo, and FC Barcelona.
The KFA acknowledged Moreno's experience, stating, "Even at a relatively young age, he has coached one of the very best clubs in the world and has led national teams. He is able to formulate tactics and analyze opponents using advanced data."
To support Moreno, the KFA has also appointed a five-man backroom staff, including top assistant Eduardo Docampo, who previously worked with Moreno at Sochi, and veteran analyst Jacint Magrina. The National Teams Committee, tasked with selecting national team coaches, conducted interviews with several foreign-born candidates before finalizing the negotiations with Moreno and his staff over the weekend.
Hyun Young-min, chief of the National Teams Committee, emphasized the fairness of the selection process, stating, "Considering a high level of national interest in the fairness of the process, we tried our best to meet the standards set by our top national sports committee. Moreno impressed us with his thorough understanding of Korean football and his ability to propose a wide range of tactical alternatives. We hope he and his new staff will help improve our national team's performance."