Hong assumed the position previously held by Mr. Jurgen
Klinsmann, returning to the role he vacated in July 2014 following a 12-month
tenure that culminated in an unsatisfactory performance at the World Cup.
He held the position of team captain for the Republic of
Korea national football team during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, which was
co-hosted by South Korea and Japan.
Hong, who is 55 years old, will be leaving Ulsan HD
effective immediately. He successfully led the club to back-to-back K-League
championships in 2022 and 2023.
“Ultimately, the ability to bring the team together is the
most important aspect,” Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung
Mong-gyu said in a statement announcing the appointment. “It will be up to the
coaching staff to handle the tactical side of things.”
The recent appointment signifies the culmination of a
five-month extensive search conducted by the Korean Football Association (KFA).
The focus now shifts to the coaching staff, who will assume responsibility for
managing the tactical aspects of the team.
The Korea Football Association had identified American coach
Jesse Marsch as their preferred candidate, but he accepted a position with
Canada in May. Other potential candidates mentioned in reports include David
Wagner, a German coach recently dismissed by Norwich City after failing to
secure promotion to the English Premier League, and former Greece manager Gus
Poyet.
Hong, who successfully led South Korea’s Under-23 team to
win the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics, had appeared to have
eliminated himself from consideration after a recent K-League game. However, he
now has two months to prepare for the commencement of the third round of 2026
World Cup qualification.
South Korea will commence its campaign against the
Palestinian team on September 5th, followed by subsequent matches
against Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, and Iraq in Group B.
In the newly implemented qualification format for the Asian
region, the two highest-ranked teams from each of the three groups, each
consisting of six teams, will secure their direct spots in the World Cup.
Six teams that place third and fourth will advance to the
fourth round, where two additional spots are available.