Director of the Lee Pregnant Society "Hong Myung-bo is the right person to lead the A team"Explain in detail with 8 reasons."
Jul 08, 2024
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Lee, the general director of the technical headquarters of the association, held a briefing at the Korea Football Center in Sinmun-ro, Seoul at 10 a.m. on the 8th and detailed the process of appointing Hong. Director Lee said in his opening remarks "The association appointed Hong Myung-bo as the new coach of the national soccer team preparing for the 2026 World Cup in North Korea and the U.S. The contract period is until the Asian Cup, which will be held in Saudi Arabia in January 2027'Official'. KFA announced Hong's nomination a day earlier on the afternoon of the 7th. Coach Hong, who led the A national team from 2013 to 2014, took the helm of the national team for the first time in 10 years.
Director Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ulsan club for making such a difficult decision despite the season. I feel sorry for the K-League and Ulsan fans to take their team's coach as the national team's coach during the season and leave the club. I offer my deepest apologies. I would like to express my gratitude to Chairman Chung Hae-sung and other members of the power reinforcement committee who have struggled to appoint the coach for five months after Klinsmann stepped down.
In February, the association had difficulty finding post-Klinsman after former national team coach Jurgen Klinsman was dismissed for failing to win the Qatar Asian Cup and controversy over attendance. Current Canadian coach Jesse March, Iraqi coach Jesús Casas, former Besiktash coach Senol Günesch, Australian coach Graham Arnold, former Norwich City coach David Wagner and former Greek coach Gus Foyet were among the top critics. The association's committee led by former chairman Chung reportedly reviewed more than 100 candidates, both at home and abroad.
Since February, the association has taken a back-and-forth step by looking at foreign coaches when it faced resistance from fans after setting the stage as a domestic player to discipline the team in the aftermath of the ping pong gate incident between players during the Asian Cup. As a result, Hwang Sun-hong, the current head coach of Daejeon Hana in March, and Kim Do-hoon, the head coach of the A-match in June, staged a series of skits. In the process, Korean soccer has created an unprecedented '5 month vacancy for the A national team coach.
The director flew directly to Europe earlier this month for meetings and negotiations with Foyet and Wagner, who are known as the final candidates, but was criticized as a `formality' to quell public opinion. Director Lee met secretly with director Hong on the day of his return to Korea on the 5th after his European tour to persuade him. Coach Hong, who had been agonizing all night, expressed his intention to accept it, and the association announced Hong's internal affairs on the afternoon of the 7th.
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Director Lee talked about two parts when he first met "Director Hong, 'Did you come for procedures, how much do you evaluate me in that?" I explained everything I evaluated and decided. Then I told you why Hong should dedicate himself to Korean soccer,' he said, revealing the conversation between Lee and Hong.
Why was the association's choice Hong Myung-bo. The director explained for eight reasons. He "First, we considered the philosophy of KFA and the game model. Coach Hong efficiently targeted the build-up shown in Ulsan, using La Volpiana, taking the back three, and the back space. He showed various aspects such as attacking third, line breaking, attack through crosses, and combination. Based on last year's data, he ranked No. 1 in opportunity creation, No. 1 in build-up, and No. 1 in pressure in the K-League. The activity ranking was 10th, but that means that he played effectively. Argentina, which won the Qatar World Cup, was also at the bottom of the list. That is a lesson for Korean soccer. Hong also has extensive experience as a leader of the A-team, 23-year-old and 20-year-old national teams, and as an executive director of the association, he has a broad perspective in technical administration" he said.
He then explained that Hong's leadership emphasizing "one team, one spirit, one goal" was higher than the two foreign candidates based on his leadership, foreign coach's resident problem in Korea, Hong's performance as a leader from his 20-year-old national team to Ulsan's second consecutive K-League, the third qualifying round for the World Cup, which begins in September, the time to apply a new philosophy to the national team, and his experience as national team leaders at all levels.
Hong also decided that he needs to make active use of his failed experience (when playing for the national team 10 years ago)."We plan to give sufficient time for the development of Korean soccer."
Director Lee confessed that the appointment process was never easy. "Will Director Hong meet me? Can we have a meeting? There were worries and fears. Chung Mong-gyu, president of the association, instructed 'Do all the decisions yourself' He did not report (to the chairman) his final decision to appoint Hong. I only reported it to Vice Chairman Kim Jung-bae, and asked him to proceed. He also demanded the salaries of Korean and foreign coaches equally. I can't reveal the amount, but I think Korean coaches should be treated as much as foreign coaches."
Coach Hong's concurrent position with the national team and Ulsan, which was raised by some, is not expected to be possible. Director Lee said, "After consultation with Ulsan, we will continue to operate as planned by Ulsan."(Coach Hong) will not be able to continue leading Ulsan," he said.
Finally, the director apologizes once again for the failure to appoint a director for five months. The committee members also tried their best. I also made the decision transparently and according to procedures.'"K-League fans. There is nothing to say to the Ulsan club. Thank you and sorry because Ulsan club promised to send manager Hong. I will continue to support the Ulsan soccer team in the future."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
