“I will run the national team with the virtue of respect, dialogue, responsibility and dedication.”
Hong Myung-bo (55), the new coach of the Korean national soccer team, held an inaugural press conference at the Korea Football Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 29th and bowed his head first to Ulsan HD and K-League fans, saying, “I am sorry for disappointing you with my choice.” “The way to be forgiven is to achieve the growth and development of the national team,” he said, adding, “I stood here with a sense of debt and responsibility.”
The Korea Football Association appointed and announced Hong as the next head coach of the adult national team, which had been vacant for nearly five months since Jurgen Klinsmann’s dismissal on the 7th. Criticism and doubts were drawn due to the fact that the national team’s power enhancement committee, which had been appointed earlier, weighed in on the foreign coach, and that Hong, who had been leading Ulsan for four seasons, had a sharp turn after showing a stubborn stance on public criticism. Hong said, “We have to take the current criticism and move on. I will always accept it humbly.”
Regarding the rumor of Chung Mong-gyu’s influence, he said, “It is true that there was a proposal before taking the helm of Ulsan in the past,” adding, “There was no prior contact at all this time. The decision was made through dialogue with Lee Im-saeng, technical director.”
Hong stressed that he is a well-prepared head coach. “Based on his valuable experience as a coach of the national team by age and executive director of the Korea Football Association, I will create positive interactions with the K-League and youth system, which are the grassroots of Korean soccer,” he said.
As for the upcoming World Cup in North Korea and the U.S., which is just two years away, he vowed to achieve a better result of the round of 16 by virtue of “respect, dialogue, responsibility, and dedication.” “Since misunderstanding comes from lack of communication, we will talk without hesitation,” said Hong, who expressed his intention to continue Son Heung-min (Tottenham). As for the style of soccer he pursues, he said, “It is important to own the ball and lead the game,” adding, “I will break down the opponent by connecting offense and defense with progressiveness and boldness. In defense, we will clearly prepare for the ground ball and counters and distribute space efficiently.” 먹튀검증
Coach Hong, who won the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics while leading the under-23 national team, was also eliminated from the group stage at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil amid criticism that he was a “human-race football.” “It was right that I failed 10 years ago. I admit it,” he said. “The big difference now is that I have the names of the players who will replace the main players, the players who will devote themselves to the team, and the players who will change the game.”