Hong Myung-bo Appointed as Head Coach of Korean Football... Returns After 10 Years

Likely to Lead Until the 2026 North American World Cup
Possible 4-Year Contract for the 2027 Asian Cup
Technical Director Lee Imsang to Brief Tomorrow

As the 2026 North American World Cup approaches, Korean football, which had been wavering, is finally entrusting the baton to Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of Ulsan HD.

The Korea Football Association announced on the 7th that Coach Hong has been appointed as the next head coach of the national football team. With this, Korean football welcomes a new coach after a long five months since J?rgen Klinsmann (Germany) was dismissed on February 16. It is the first time in six years that a Korean coach will officially lead the national team since Shin Tae-yong, the current Indonesia coach, who led the team until the 2018 Russia World Cup.

Hong Myung-bo, appointed as the head coach of the national soccer team, Ulsan HD coach
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Coach Hong was a key figure in the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semi-final miracle as a player, and as a coach, he is a 'hero' of Korean football who achieved the bronze medal miracle at the 2012 London Olympics. Having led the national team from 2013 to 2014 and participated in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Coach Hong is now returning as the head coach of the national team after 10 years.

Although he faced heavy criticism for the group stage elimination at the Brazil World Cup, this experience is expected to be an asset in the challenge for the North American World Cup. From 2017 to 2020, he served as the executive director at the Korea Football Association, giving him a strong understanding of administration, which is considered a strength in enhancing his control both inside and outside the national team. Additionally, since 2021, he has led Ulsan to two K League 1 championships in the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and he knows domestic players better than anyone, including Ju Min-gyu (Ulsan), who made his 'late bloomer' debut in this year's A matches.

On the 2nd of this month, Lee Im-saeng, the general director of the technical department of the Football Association, who had traveled to Europe to interview foreign coaches such as David Wagner and Gus Poyet, returned and personally visited Coach Hong on the 5th to offer him the position of head coach of the national team. A Korea Football Association official said, "Director Lee persuaded Coach Hong as if making a 'three visits' (samgochorye)," adding, "Coach Hong thought about it for a day and conveyed his acceptance on the evening of the 6th."

Details of the contract have not yet been discussed. It is certain that he will lead the national team at least until the 2026 North American World Cup. There is also a possibility that his tenure will be guaranteed for four years until the 2027 Asian Cup. Coach Hong will lead the national team starting from the first match of the third round of Asian qualifiers for the North American World Cup against Palestine at home on September 5.

Hong Myung-bo, appointed as the head coach of the national soccer team, Ulsan HD coach
[Photo by Yonhap News]

After months of failing to find a permanent head coach and having to manage two A-match periods under interim coaches, the Football Association seems to have finally sent an 'SOS' to Coach Hong, who currently leads a K League 1 club. Since Coach Klinsmann stepped down, the Football Association has been searching for a new coach centered around the National Team Strengthening Committee.

There were speculations that the next coach might be a foreigner after Jeong Hae-seong, the chairman of the Strengthening Committee who was known to have recommended a domestic coach to the Football Association's senior officials, resigned on the 28th of last month. However, following Chairman Jeong, Director Lee Im-saeng, who led the coach selection process, concluded that Coach Hong was the most suitable after interviewing foreign candidates such as Wagner and Poyet.

Director Lee is scheduled to brief on the matter on the morning of the 8th at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul.