Moreno appointed as South Korea's coach, 'uneasy' local reaction in Spain: "Unexpected return to coaching"

*This content was translated by AI.

The news that Roberto Moreno (49, Spain) has been appointed as the interim head coach of the South Korean national football team has sparked surprise in Spain. After a series of recent failures led to a downward trend, taking charge of the South Korean national team was seen as an unexpected twist, resulting in somewhat uneasy reactions from the Korean side.

Spanish media outlet OK Diario reported on the 2nd (Korean time): "Coach Moreno has returned to the field by taking charge of the South Korean national team. He previously served as an assistant coach under Luis Enrique and even led the Spanish national team. Although he failed to achieve significant success at AS Monaco, Granada, and PFC Sochi, he unexpectedly took over the South Korean national team and returned to coaching."

The media further explained: "After leaving the Spanish national team, Moreno joined AS Monaco but left after just half a season. He also failed to complete the season at Granada. At Sochi, he continued his coaching career but was dismissed amid controversy, with allegations even raised that he used AI to select the starting lineup. Despite this, Coach Moreno has now been given a new opportunity in South Korea."

The media added: "Coach Moreno took over after Hong Myung-bo stepped down following South Korea's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. He will first face a trial through friendly matches in September and October. His goal is to lead the national team until the AFC Asian Cup next year, which will be held in Saudi Arabia."

Previously, the Korea Football Association appointed Coach Moreno as interim head coach through an open recruitment process. This marks the first time an A-team head coach has been selected via open recruitment. In addition to Coach Moreno, five Spanish coaches will also lead the South Korean national team in a group format. Their contract runs until November 27.

During this period, "Moreno's squad" will be tested by leading six A-match games this year: four friendly matches in September and October, followed by two more in November. After evaluation, they may continue to lead the team until the AFC Asian Cup next January, but if the evaluation is unsatisfactory, a new head coach will need to be sought.

Hyun Young-min Jeon Ryeok-gang-hwa (Chairman) stated: "Coach Moreno already has a high understanding of Korean football and presented various tactical alternatives, showing impressive enthusiasm. We hope that Coach Moreno's team, selected through a rigorous process, will play a role in changing the atmosphere of the national team and improving its performance."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.