"Coach interview → If there is a chance, we will meet European players" Hong Myung-bo and Son Heung-min will reunite 'Coach → Player' after 10 years
Jul 15, 2024
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Hong left for Europe on the 15th to appoint foreign coaches. Coach Hong plans to appoint candidates for tactics and physical coaches to assist him after meeting in person.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) concluded the process of appointing Hong on the 13th with the approval of the board of directors. The KFA held a written resolution of the 4th board of directors in 2024 on the appointment of the national team coach for three days from the 10th to the 12th. Twenty-one out of 23 approved.
There is a backlash, but coach Hong chose the path to break through head-on. He had an interview for the first time since taking the helm of Team A at the departure hall of Incheon International Airport.
Hong said, `After being appointed as the national coach, I usually hold an inauguration press conference and then start my work, but in this case, I had no time, so I decided to travel to Europe first before the inauguration press conference. I ask for your understanding in this regard," he said.
And "The purpose of this business trip to Europe is to appoint foreign coaching who will lead the Korean soccer team for the next two and a half years. First of all, through meetings with foreign coaches, I decided that it would be better for me as a coach to hear and make decisions about the philosophy, vision, and understanding of Korean soccer that they have brought so far, so I went out in person. "The core of modern soccer is division of labor. I think it's my job to divide the coaching staff and maximize their expertise, but I also think it's best to see and judge them myself", he explained.
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However, as the players' pre-season is more important, it is not planned to overdo it. Hong said "It's fluid. It's important how long I'm at, and now that it's pre-season, I don't know what the players are in right now. It has to be very fluid. I'd like to go and watch it if possible, but I think I should judge after looking at various situations such as problems with the team" is expected to be about a week." If the players have a chance to meet, I don't know if it will be delayed a few more days. A date for returning home has not yet been set. It's a flexible situation, so I'll pass on the plan through the association later," he stressed.
Team A didn't forget to say that the door was open. "What I have to do is what kind of identity we create for the Korean national team is the most important thing. There is no fixed rule for a representative player. Since it's an open team, I think it'll be okay to send enough messages when the players who need it come in after organizing the culture I mentioned to anyone, rather than giving messages to anyone."
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Coach Hong continued, `How to make the Korean national soccer team a strong team and a good team is the most important thing in my head. Of course, I understand many people's worries and expectations, but I'd appreciate it if many people cheered for me on the last challenge of my life," he added.
Coach Hong will make his first appearance in the first round of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Palestine on September 5th. Director Hong's watch is getting faster.
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