SEOUL — The South Korean national football federation confirmed on Saturday the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as the head coach of the men's national team. This decision comes after the departure of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann and a subsequent detailed search for a replacement. The Korea Football Association (KFA) revealed that the appointment was finalized following a vote by its board of directors, which overwhelmingly supported Hong.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the board's decision was reached through a voting process that took place from Wednesday to Friday, with Hong securing 21 out of 23 votes. His appointment was initially announced last Sunday and was widely expected to be ratified by the board. Hong's immediate tasks include assembling his coaching staff, for which he plans to travel to Europe to interview potential European assistant coaches.
Hong, aged 55, returns to a familiar role, having previously managed the South Korean national team from 2013 to 2014. His previous tenure ended after the team's early exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Recently, Hong served as the head coach of Ulsan Hyundai FC, leading the team to consecutive league titles in 2022 and 2023. His departure from Ulsan, which occurred just after their last match under his guidance, has been a point of contention among fans and has drawn criticism due to the timing within the ongoing league season.
The KFA had dismissed Klinsmann following South Korea's performance in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup semifinals earlier this year. After an interim period managed by caretakers and a review of several candidates, the federation settled on Hong, despite some public disapproval regarding his reappointment. Hong's challenge will commence with the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup scheduled for September.