'I've never experienced anything like this'... '6 matches, life on the line': South Korea's national team coach recruitment opens up — who will apply?

*This content was translated by AI.

Ultimately, the men's national football team will be led by an interim head coach. The football community is closely watching whether highly regarded and competitive coaches will accept the short-term, approximately three-month interim role and actually take up their positions.

Currently, the South Korea national football team is without a head coach following the resignation of Hong Myung-bo immediately after the team's elimination from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The Korea Football Association has launched efforts to appoint a new head coach by convening a Power Strengthening Committee centered on Hyeon Yeong-min (Chairman). On the 24th, the association's board approved the procedure for selecting an interim coach to lead the national team during the A-match window scheduled from September through November.

Accordingly, the association issued an official public notice on the 30th in compliance with the Korea Sports Council's regulations on national team selection and operation, officially beginning the open recruitment process. In adherence to the Korea Sports Council's requirement for a minimum 10-day public notice period, applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. next month on the 9th. Following document screening and interviews, final candidates will be ranked before contract negotiations commence. Given that the A-match window begins as early as September 21, the association plans to complete the selection process by August.

However, the application requirements are quite stringent. This open recruitment does not allow individual applications; instead, applicants must form a coaching staff of at least five to seven members centered around the head coach and submit as a single unit. The unit's composition may include assistant coaches, goalkeeping coaches, physical coaches, analysts, and others, and cannot be altered after submission.

For head coach applicants, domestic candidates must hold an AFC P License or equivalent coaching qualification along with a Professional Sports Instructor Level 2 certification. Foreign candidates must possess the highest-level coaching license issued by one of FIFA's continental confederations. Assistant coaches require either an AFC A License and Professional Sports Instructor Level 2 certification (for domestic applicants) or relevant qualifications plus at least five years of coaching experience (for foreign applicants).

Applicants must submit their licenses, resumes, personal statements, and a national team operation plan. An evaluation committee composed of Power Strengthening Committee members and external evaluators will conduct comprehensive reviews.

This marks the first time in history that the head coach position for either the men's or women's A-national teams has been filled through open recruitment. Due to limitations such as the short-term interim nature of the role and the requirement to submit a full coaching unit, concerns have been raised about the possibility of foreign coaches applying. The association acknowledged external concerns and opinions regarding the open recruitment process for the A-team head coach position and stated that it will consolidate the pros and cons derived from this process and, if necessary, consult with the Korea Sports Council on institutional improvements.

Contrary to concerns, interest from foreign coaches has been extremely high even before the official public notice and recruitment process began. Coaches such as Paulo Bento, who led South Korea to the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, and Gus Poyet, who previously managed top European clubs including Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Olympiacos (Greece), and Sunderland, have expressed significant interest in leading the South Korean national team even before the association issued its formal announcement. Reports indicate that these coaches are not merely expressing symbolic interest but are willing to adapt to the unique nature of an interim role and tailor their contract terms to meet the association's requirements.

Both coaches have demonstrated strong determination for the head coach position and plan to formally apply through this recruitment process. In particular, Coach Poyet took over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors when the team was in serious crisis, having fallen to 10th place and facing a relegation playoff. Within just one year, he completely transformed the team, leading them to win both the K League 1 title and the Korea Cup simultaneously — achieving a double — and restoring Jeonbuk as an absolute powerhouse in the K League. Coach Bento, who orchestrated the Round of 16 miracle at the Qatar World Cup, is also considered a realistic candidate due to his deep understanding of South Korean football's environment.

The appointed interim head coach will lead the team through six matches during the A-match window from September to November. However, their participation in next January's AFC Asian Cup remains uncertain. On the 28th, the association officially confirmed that the two friendly matches in October will be against Venezuela (October 2) and Uzbekistan (October 6). Negotiations are currently underway to determine the remaining two opponents for September.

With the door now open for open recruitment, attention is focused on whether verified foreign coaches like Bento and Poyet, who have shown proactive attitudes even before the official announcement, will form their coaching units, submit applications, and ultimately take up the interim head coach position for the South Korean national team.

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*This content was translated by AI.