South Korea have narrowed the search for a new national team coach to three foreign candidates, the head of the Korea Football Association (KFA) technical committee said yesterday.
Lee Yong-soo told reporters at the Paju National Football Center in Paju, north of Seoul, that the committee had considered 17 local and 30 foreign coaches before deciding on their shortlist.
Hong Myung-bo resigned as coach after South Korea’s woeful FIFA World Cup finals campaign in Brazil, where they earned only one point and finished bottom of their group.
“We came up with a list of candidates and selected three coaches to give priority to,” said Lee, who also headed the committee in 2002 when Guus Hiddink coached South Korea to fourth place at the World Cup on home soil.
“All three are foreign coaches. One Korean coach met the requirements, but after the technical committee discussion we have decided to rule him out this time. The KFA will begin contacting the three foreign coaches starting next week. We won’t disclose their names,” he added.
Lee had said earlier this week that experience — whether at international or domestic level — would be a top priority in choosing South Korea’s new coach.
Former Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been linked with the post in various media reports.
Lennon worked with South Korea players Ki Sung-yueng and Cha Du-ri during his tenure in charge of the Scottish champions.
Former Netherlands international Frank Rijkaard and former Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham coach Martin Jol have also been reported as possibilities.
South Korea have enjoyed mixed success under foreign coaches, with Hiddink and compatriot Dick Advocaat getting the best out of them, while others such as Pim Verbeek, Humberto Coelho and Jo Bonfrere have failed to deliver.
Dutchman Verbeek was the last foreigner to coach South Korea. He resigned after leading them to third place at the 2007 Asian Cup.
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