"Successor to Hong Myung-bo? I'll take the job." Korean football, without a head coach, surprisingly popular: "Benítez, Postecoglou, Martínez..." Top coaches receive love calls

*This content was translated by AI.

Who will be the successor to former coach Hong Myung-bo? Overseas coaches are showing continued interest in the vacant position of the Korean national football team's head coach.

The first person to express interest in returning was former coach Paulo Bento, who led South Korea to the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Recently stepping down from his role as head coach of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national team and taking a break, Coach Bento has informally conveyed his intention to return as the Korean national team's head coach through officials of the Korea Football Association. Given that his previous coaching methods have already been proven, he is being mentioned as a strong candidate both inside and outside the football community.

Former coach Guus Hiddink also officially confirmed his challenge for the Korean national team head coach position through media interviews. Coach Hiddink led Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 2025 season, achieving the double crown of K League 1 and the Korea Cup, giving him an advantage in understanding domestic players. However, his frequent controversies during his tenure at Jeonbuk and his recent dismissal from Al-Khaleej in Saudi Arabia after just seven games due to poor performance are cited as drawbacks.

Roberto Martínez, former Portugal national team coach, is also reported to have shown interest in the Korean national team. Having managed the English Premier League (EPL) and the Belgium national team, he stepped down after Spain defeated his team in the Round of 16 of the upcoming North America World Cup. In terms of career achievements and reputation, he is considered the most prominent among the currently discussed candidates.

However, it will be difficult to decide on their appointments immediately. The Korean national football team suffered an early exit from the North America World Cup, leading to Jeong Mong-gyu (Chairman)'s resignation and leaving the association's top position vacant. The Power Strengthening Committee responsible for selecting the next coach has also not yet been fully formed.

Delays in the coaching appointment process are inevitable. However, the continuous interest from top overseas coaches is interpreted as evidence that the Korean national team head coach position still holds high value in the global football community.

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*This content was translated by AI.