Chinese Football Association Offers Bento Head Coach Position for A National Team
Bento "Will Consider Future After Recharging in Portugal"
Paulo Bento, head coach of the South Korean national football team that reached the Round of 16 in the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lee Gyehwa] Paulo Bento (53), the coach who bid farewell after leading the South Korean national football team to the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, is being mentioned as a candidate for the next head coach of the Chinese national football team.
Overseas football-related specialized sites reported, "The Chinese Football Association recently offered Coach Bento the position of head coach of the China A national team through a domestic agency, along with a salary condition of 2 billion KRW." The media added, "Coach Bento neither accepted nor declined this offer."
Coach Bento was appointed as the head coach of Chongqing Dangdai Lifan in the Chinese Super League in December 2017. He was dismissed after seven months at the end of the first half of the season due to poor performance. He also suffered mentally because the players did not fully follow him. Currently, the Chinese national football team has been led by Li Xiaopeng (47) since December last year.
Coach Bento encouraging players during the Round of 16 match between Korea and Brazil at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Photo by Yonhap News
"I am very proud to have led the Korean national team"
Coach Bento is the longest-serving head coach in the history of the South Korean national team based on a single term. Since his appointment as the head coach of the South Korean national football team in August 2018, he successfully led the team for 4 years and 4 months. He faced criticism over consecutive losses to Japan and controversies regarding player selection. However, at this World Cup stage, he received praise for showcasing "our own style of football" and achieved the successful result of reaching the Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years.
Coach Bento was offered a contract renewal by the Korea Football Association but declined. He said, "The decision was already made last September. I will return to Portugal to rest and recharge for a while and then decide on my future course." He added, "I am grateful for what our players have accomplished. I am very proud to have led the Korean national team."
After achieving the Round of 16 advancement, Coach Bento’s contract ended, and he is now a free agent. He can negotiate and sign with any team. It is expected that offers will come to Coach Bento not only from China but also from various places. Football insiders predict that Coach Bento will take the helm of a European football club rather than a national team.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
