"Thank you, Coach Hong Myung-bo" – Portuguese coach Arroso bids farewell to Korean football

*This content was translated by AI.

Joao Arroso, a Portuguese coach who served as senior coach assisting the Republic of Korea national football team under head coach Hong Myung-bo and competed in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Mexico, and Central America, bid farewell to Korean football via social media (SNS).

On the 16th (Korean time), coach Arroso wrote on his social media (SNS): "Winning does not mean everything is good, and losing does not mean everything is bad. Sometimes the difference between success and failure is very slight. That difference is determined by small details or luck."

He continued, "I sincerely apologize to all the fans who have always supported us. I am also deeply disappointed. Because we spent the past two years building a process together as a team that gave us confidence we could climb higher in this tournament, the sense of regret is even greater."

Coach Arroso added, "Now that our two-year contract with (the Korea Football Association) has ended, this experience was a time that greatly helped me grow as a coach. Although there were personally difficult times, above all, spending time on the field doing the work I love, football, was truly wonderful."

He also expressed gratitude to the Korea Football Association, which hired him, and to Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the Republic of Korea national football team.

He said, "I sincerely thank the Korea Football Association that hired me, Head Coach Hong Myung-bo, and all staff members who warmly welcomed me and helped me adapt to a new culture."

Coach Arroso stated, "Korea is truly a country with excellent strengths. The firm will of its people transformed Korea from the poorest nation in the world in 1953, when the Korean War ended, into one of the most developed nations today. It was a great honor for me to work and live in such a country."

Meanwhile, coach Arroso joined the national team as a foreign coaching staff member to assist head coach Hong Myung-bo in August 2024. At that time, Coach Hong said, "Coach Arroso is a proven coach who has guarded the field for a long time and has well understood global football trends. We expect him to support the operation of a flexible and proactive Jeon Sul-ro (CEO) team reflecting those trends."

However, just before the World Cup opened, he sparked controversy by stating in an interview with local media: "The Korea Football Association wanted a Korean coach to take on external roles at the World Cup and was looking for a European coach to organize training and tactics. The role they wanted from me was that of a field supervisor." Later, coach Arroso apologized to the national team and requested media outlets to delete the interview article.

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*This content was translated by AI.