Incheon: Robert Moreno, recently appointed as the interim head coach of the men's national football team, will touch down in South Korea on Sunday. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced on Wednesday that Moreno is scheduled for a media interaction shortly after his arrival at Incheon International Airport, located just outside Seoul, by late Sunday morning.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Moreno and his five-man backroom staff were collectively recruited by the KFA on September 1. They are tasked with leading the South Korean team for the upcoming six international friendly matches. The Taegeuk Warriors are set to face Ecuador on September 24, Uruguay on September 28, Venezuela on October 2, and Uzbekistan on October 6. Additionally, the KFA is negotiating to organize two more matches during the FIFA match window from November 9 to 17. Moreno is also slated to hold a press conference at Korea Football Park in Cheonan on Monday, approximately 80 kilometers south of Seoul, where he will announce the roster for the September and October fixtures.
Moreno's interim appointment comes in the wake of Hong Myung-bo's resignation in June, following South Korea's early exit from the FIFA World Cup. Rather than hastily selecting a permanent replacement, the KFA chose Moreno as a temporary solution to navigate the upcoming matches. The KFA aims to have a full-time coach ready by the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in January. Although Moreno's contract extends until November 27, the KFA indicated that his tenure could continue into the Asian Cup based on the team's performance in the forthcoming games.
At 48, Moreno brings a wealth of experience, having previously managed the Spain men's national team and served as an assistant coach to Luis Enrique for both Spain and FC Barcelona.