"Director Hong Myung-bo's right arm." Shocking interview. What did he say... "Request to delete articles" → SNS even provides an explanation

*This content was translated by AI.

The interview of João Aroso, the head coach of the South Korean national soccer team led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, with local media in Portugal in the past has been known in Korea, causing a stir. As chief coach Aroso's expression of himself as a de facto tactical director became a problem, he is making all-out efforts to extinguish the situation by himself.

Portuguese media "Bolana Hede" published an interview article with Arroso, the head coach of the South Korean national team, ahead of the 2026 FIFA North-China World Cup on the 5th of last month. Head coach Aroso is a key assistant to head coach Hong Myung-bo, who joined the national team as a tactical coach and head coach in August 2024.

According to the interview, head coach Aroso said, "The Korea Football Association wanted a Korean head coach after the resignation of former coach Jurgen Klinsmann. At the same time, I was looking for a European coach who oversees training and game plans, he said. "The Football Association contacted me in this context and interviewed me," he explained.

Particularly controversial was the remarks on the division of roles. Head coach Aroso said, "What the Football Association expected of me was the field coach. Coach Hong Myung-bo is the centerpiece of the project, but the KFA wanted someone to organize training and plan the game," he added.

In addition, coach Aroso said, "The Korea Football Association even requested the formation of a coaching staff. At first, Thiago Maia, an analyst, was brought in, and then both the physical and goalkeeper coaches were recommended by me," he said, suggesting that he was deeply involved in the formation of the coaching staff.

As the contents were delivered to Korea, some raised controversy over whether Hong Myung-bo was just a face talk without real power, and it was Aroso's head coach who actually led the national team.

As the controversy spread, Chief Coach Aroso immediately extinguished it through his personal social network service (SNS) on the 5th. "It's an honor to be with the Korean national team under coach Hong Myung-bo," he said. Coach Hong Myung-bo is a leader with unusual capabilities and dedicated attitudes, he said, adding, "We are doing our best to support coach Hong Myung-bo to perform well at the World Cup."

In response, an official from the Korea Football Association explained, "Aroso, the head coach, did not express any controversy, including the on-site coach, and only explained each role of the coaching staff," adding, "Aroso, the head coach, asked the media to delete the interview article, which became the center of the controversy."

Meanwhile, head coach Aroso also mentioned the tactical changes of the national team in detail in an interview. In particular, regarding the three-back tactics introduced after the confirmation of the North Korea-China World Cup finals, he said, "I was talking with head coach Hong Myung-bo and concluded that it could be interesting to deploy five players when lowering the defense line," adding, "Although training time was insufficient, the 3-4-3 formation was very effective and the players accepted it well. The A-match in September made the strategy more solid, and South Korea is ready to use both formations," he said, expressing confidence.

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*This content was translated by AI.