S Korea names Huh Jung-moo as national soccer team coach
SEOUL (AP): South Korea named a homegrown coach at the helm of its national
soccer team for the first time in seven years on Friday, breaking away
from its strong penchant for Dutchmen for the post following its semifinal
success in the 2002 World Cup.
Huh Jung-moo, coach of the local K-League side Chonnam Dragons, was named
to lead South Korea through qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South
Africa, an official of the Korea Football Association said on customary
condition of anonymity citing protocols.
The official declined to give details, including the terms of Huh's contract.
The new coach replaced Pim Verbeek of the Netherlands who resigned in
August following the squad's less-than-expected performance of finishing
third at the Asian Cup. The post has since been vacant. Verbeek was named
new Australian coach this week.
Huh, 52, had coached South Korea in 1998-2000 before the country began
naming foreigners for the post, starting with Dutchman Guus Hiddink.
Hiddink, now Russia's coach, guided South Korea to the semifinals of the
2002 World Cup that the country co-hosted with Japan, making the squad
the first Asian team to reach the place. That made Hiddink a national
hero in South Korea.
After Hiddink, South Korea saw four other foreign coaches _ all of them
Dutch, except Humberto Coelho of Portugal. The other Dutch-born coaches
were Jo Bonfrere, Dick Advocaat and Verbeek.
Local media reported that South Korea tried to hire a foreigner this time
too, but had to settle for a local coach after its offers were turned
down by candidates, such as former French coach Gerard Houllier and former
Ireland coach Mick McCarthy.
Huh was one of the best known South Korean players in the 1970s-80s. He
also played for the Dutch-side PSV Eindhoven in 1980-83.
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