Bento Next Is Ahn Jung-hwan?..."Football Association Prefers Domestic Coaches with Salaries Under 1 Billion Won"

Football Association Shows Differences in Views with Coach Bento Over 'Contract Period'
"There Is Also 'Patriotism' in Appointing a Domestic Coach"

On the 7th, Paulo Bento, the head coach of the South Korean national football team that reached the World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in 12 years, returned home through Incheon International Airport. He is seen giving a thumbs-up during an interview. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Paulo Bento, who successfully led the South Korean men's national football team to the Round of 16 in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, has decided not to renew his contract with the Korea Football Association (KFA), drawing attention to the new head coach of the men's national team. Currently, commentators Ahn Jung-hwan, and coaches Choi Yong-soo and Kim Hak-bum are reportedly being considered.

On the 8th, Park Dong-hee, a reporter from Sports Chunchu, appeared on YTN Radio's 'News King Park Ji-hoon' and revealed that the Football Association prefers a domestic coach as the new head coach. First, Park stated that there was a significant difference in opinion between the Football Association and Coach Bento regarding the 'contract period.'

Originally, Coach Bento wanted the contract period to be guaranteed until the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, but the Football Association reportedly proposed extending it first until the 2023 Asian Cup and then extending it for another three years based on performance.

Regarding reports that Bento demanded an excessive salary, Park said, "The Football Association's position is that since Coach Bento achieved great results in the World Cup, they were willing to meet the proposed amount even if it was excessive."

Park added, "Although Ahn Jung-hwan, Choi Yong-soo, and Kim Hak-bum are not yet in the final stages, the general direction of the Football Association has been decided to appoint a domestic coach," and "It seems that the salary has also been set below 1 billion won." He also revealed that a Football Association official said, "Among the Round of 16 coaches, only our country has a foreign coach," and "How long should we keep handing over the baton to foreign coaches?"

He further explained that 'patriotism' is also a reason behind the Football Association's intention to appoint a domestic coach. He said, "I don't know how much weight patriotism holds in the coach selection, but if it is a criterion, it would be laughable to anyone."

He continued, "Does Japan select players based on academic or regional ties like Korea? The biggest concern about a domestic coach is that players might be selected or used based on academic or regional ties, right?" and criticized, "Simply comparing Japan and us without dispelling those concerns is nonsense."

Additionally, Park emphasized, "The Football Association needs to clearly present the criteria for the next coach, who is needed in our football community, and who can be a candidate."

Meanwhile, Ahn Jung-hwan does not yet have the P-level license, the highest coaching qualification that football coaches can obtain, and therefore is not qualified to serve as a head coach or coach for the national team. However, his name is on the list of 25 participants for the 2023 P-level coaching seminar announced by the Football Association on the 7th, and he has stated directly, "The Qatar World Cup will probably be my last World Cup as a commentator," raising expectations for his future moves.