South Korea has announced the return of Hong Myung-Bo as the head coach of the national team, marking his second stint in charge. This decision comes after a five-month period without a coach following the dismissal of Jürgen Klinsmann in February. Hong, a former South Korean international with 136 caps, notably captained the team to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in South Korea.
Reportedly, Hong has signed a contract that will see him lead the team until the 2027 Asian Cup. His previous tenure as head coach lasted for 19 games between 2013 and 2014, culminating in South Korea's group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup.
Hong's return to the national team follows his successful coaching spell at Ulsan Hyundai, where he guided the club to consecutive K League 1 titles in recent seasons. His primary objective now is to guide South Korea to their 11th consecutive World Cup appearance, with the team currently in the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2026 tournament to be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The appointment of Hong comes after the departure of German coach Klinsmann, who left his position following South Korea's unexpected semi-final defeat by Jordan at the AFC Asian Cup. During the interim period, Hwang Sun-Hong and Kim Do-Hoon took charge of the team while the Korea Football Association conducted a search for a permanent replacement.
Several notable candidates were reportedly considered for the role, including Canada's Jesse Marsch, former Norwich City manager David Wagner, and ex-Greece coach Gus Poyet. Ultimately, the KFA decided to entrust the national team to the experienced hands of Hong Myung-Bo for the upcoming challenges ahead.
