SEOUL: Hong Myung-bo has been named head coach of the South Korean national football team a decade after he last held the post, Yonhap news agency reported on Sunday.
The Korea Football Association tapped the 55-year-old for the permanent role after sacking Jurgen Klinsmann in February following the team’s semifinal exit from the Asian Cup, where they had been a favourite for the title.
Hong led South Korea for 19 matches between 2013 and 2014, finishing after their group-stage exit at the 2014 World Cup. He arrives back with the national team having led Ulsan HD to back-to-back K League 1 titles in the past two seasons.
Technical director Lee Lim-saeng will hold a press conference on Monday to discuss Hong’s appointment, Yonhap said. Hwang Sun-hong and Kim Do-hoon were interim coaches while the association searched for a permanent replacement.