If his fate had not changed, A-team coach Hong Myung-bo would have been benched at Sangambeol. The head coach of last year’s K-League will take the helm. Hong led Ulsan HD to win the K-League 1 title in 2023 following 2022.
However, he changed his words as the head coach of the A-team, responding to the call of the Korea Football Association with a card of “last challenge.” Team K-League will play one game of Coupang Play Series against Son Heung-min’s Tottenham at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on Saturday. In place of Hong, Park Tae-ha, coach of Pohang Steelers, the second-ranked team last year, will lead Team K-League. Hong took the first step in his inaugural press conference on Tuesday. Originally, he planned to watch the match from the stand.
However, he changed his schedule and rushed to Gijang in Busan. Hong’s first official move in Korea included his “promise.” After suggesting the direction of the A team in his inaugural address, he will take his first step as head coach of the A team, starting with an inspection of a practice match between the U-19 national team and Ulsan University at 4 p.m. on the day at the World Cup Village in Gijang County, Busan.
The implications are significant. While acknowledging the failure of the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil 10 years ago, Hong said there would be no more “human soccer” in Brazil. He added that he would not be lazy in finding promising players based on macroeconomic conditions. “I served as a coach of the national team by age group and experienced administration as an executive director. Through these experiences, I have learned how systematic youth system and active youth development can lead to the development of the A-team and Korean soccer,” Hong said. “I also experienced the importance of the K-League as I returned to the field and worked as a coach of the K-League. Based on these valuable experiences, I will continue to build a national team that grows with the K-League, the root of Korean soccer. I will also actively seek to find young promising players who will become valuable assets for Korean soccer.”
The U-19 national team led by head coach Lee Chang-won was convened in Busan on Tuesday. The U-19 national team is preparing for the FIFA U-20 World Cup following the U-20 Asian Cup next year. The U-20 Asian Cup qualifying round will be held in Kuwait in September. The U-19 national team was in Group C with Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and the North Mariana Islands.
Strengthening the capabilities of the national team by linking age groups will also be carried out in earnest. Under the framework, the national team of different age groups and the A team should share the same philosophy. “I have coached the 20-year-old national team as well. If the tactic used by the national team is to reach the 20-year-old team, if a 20-year-old player shows great performance and skills, he or she can join the A team immediately without having to adjust to the tactic. 스포츠토토 That is the strength of linking the national team by age group,” Hong said.
And he added, “We have to consider whether a 20-year-old player should go through a 23-year-old team or should come up to Team A right away. The problem of ‘all-out controversy’ will disappear if leaders communicate with each other. He can also develop at a rapid pace,” adding, “It was the KFA’s policy that was very important in my process of accepting the national team coach. It is a very important opportunity for Korean soccer to run and see young players everywhere and check them out. We only envy overseas soccer in words. In reality, I think it will be a big issue for Korean soccer if the system is applied.”
This is just the beginning. Hong will also visit the K-League stadium where he worked until recently after the “All-Star break” to check on domestic soccer players.