South Korea’s newly appointed national football coach, Hong Myung-bo, has firmly denied receiving any preferential treatment in his appointment, asserting that he was chosen based on merit. Hong, who previously managed the team between 2013 and 2014, returned to the helm in July after a five-month search following the dismissal of Juergen Klinsmann. His reappointment sparked debate, with some fans expressing their displeasure during his debut match, a 0-0 draw against Palestine.
Addressing the concerns during a session of the country’s parliament, Hong stated that he accepted the job because he was considered the most qualified candidate by the Korea Football Association (KFA). He revealed that KFA’s technical director, Lee Lim-saeng, informed him that he was the top choice, selected by the National Teams Committee. He emphasized that had he not been the leading candidate, he would not have accepted the offer.
Rumors circulated that other prominent coaches, including David Wagner (former Norwich City manager), Jesse Marsch (Canada coach), and Gus Poyet (former Greece coach), were also in contention for the position. However, Hong maintains that he secured the job due to his qualifications and the committee’s assessment.
Hong’s first stint as national team coach saw him lead the team for 19 games, culminating in a group stage exit at the 2014 World Cup. Initially, he expressed reluctance to leave his position as manager of K League champion Ulsan to return to the national team, but ultimately, he felt a sense of duty to accept the challenge. “It became hard to ignore the difficult position that our national team was in, and I wanted to serve the country one last time,” he added.
KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, during the same parliamentary session, addressed the controversy surrounding the appointment, stating that discussing the hiring process openly was “inappropriate.” He highlighted that regardless of whether the KFA appoints a Korean or foreign coach, disclosing details about every candidate is not a desirable practice. This statement aimed to avoid future controversies surrounding coaching appointments.
