Hong Myung-bo “It’s not important to restore my honor… I will keep the honor of the ACL Champ Ulsan”[신년인터뷰]

[스포츠서울 김용일기자]“My restoration of honor is not important. I will protect the honor of Ulsan Hyundai.”

New director Hong Myung-bo (52), who is returning to the scene after three years and seven months holding the Ulsan Hyundai Baton, the New Year’s New Year in 2021, drew a new future with the heart of’Ongo Ji-shin’. In a recent New Year interview with Sports Seoul, Hong said, “When the appointment of Ulsan was officially announced, I was overwhelmed with the idea that’it’s starting again’. I am excited to breathe and sweat again with the players on the ground.”

In the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, coach Hong, who played an unexplained’Asia’s Best Libero’ during active duty, wearing a captain’s armband and leading the quarterfinals, began his career as a coach for the national team in 2005 after retirement. Since then, he has accumulated experience as a representative coach by age, but he has been winning and winning as if to ridicule the myth that it is difficult for a star-born leader to succeed. He reached the quarterfinals in the 2009 Egypt International Football Federation (FIFA) U-20 World Cup, and led the U-23 national team at the 2012 London Olympics and won the first bronze medal ever in Korean football. Then, with little time left for the 2014 Brazil World Cup finals, he hurriedly grabbed the baton of the’Self-Class,’ and was eliminated from the group stage, experiencing his first failure. It did not simply result in a World Cup failure. From the controversy over the selection of players, to unfounded rumors, and even personal aggressive remarks by some netizens, he had to suffer a huge injury. After that, he took the lead in the Chinese league for a while, and from 2017 to 2020, he transformed into an administrator by taking the position of managing director of the Korea Football Association (KFA). During this period, coach Hong was in close contact with all the systems of all levels, from youth to adults, the basis of Korean football. From players to leaders, he has been in a fierce game world throughout his football life, and his view of always looking at’one side’ has widened even further. In particular, from the introduction of 8 to 8 elementary schools that strengthen the roots of Korean football, he has pursued bold projects such as establishing a division system for linking life sports and professional sports, and retraced the path he had taken.

Therefore, Hong’s appointment to Ulsan is not simply the return of’Director Hong Myung-bo’, but is also read as the starting point of becoming a true’manager-type leader and footballer’. Ulsan, the’Big Club’ representing the K-League, has the highest level of systems and resources from youth to first team. Front competitiveness such as competition management, reinforcement department, promotion and marketing is also top-notch. The K-League Command Tower is the first time he is not at the level of making up for the failure of the last World Cup by leading the squad, but is interested in whether he will contribute to opening a new club and a new K-League culture by breathing with the front desk with the experience of an administrator.

Director Hong met on the 28th of last month as the managing director of KFA. I was in full swing to organize my duties as executive director ahead of the meeting of the Ulsan team on the 7th. “I did a lot more work than I thought when I was organizing it,” he laughed and expressed his thoughts of returning as a field leader. Director Hong drew a line about the’recovery of honor’ that followed like a hot topic with the return to the field. “I have always said something since 2009, when I started supervising. ‘My honor is from soccer’. You may lose your fame while playing soccer, or you may gain greater fame.” “Personally, I don’t care about fame. Isn’t Ulsan the Asian Champions League (ACL) champion team? Rather, it is more important for me to keep the honor of Ulsan.” Just before taking office, I watched all of the Ulsan games ascending to the Asian throne. “Last year, both the K-League 1 and the FA Cup were unfortunately missed, but breaking the runner-up Jinx in the last ACL tournament will give the squad tremendous confidence.” “It is a lie if the new director is not burdened. I will take the burden as good energy and challenge it. Ulsan’s goal is clearly to win the K League 1. I will take a good process to achieve my goal.”

The aim of’Ulsan Hong Myung Protection’ is a’sustainable development leading team’ that is consistently leading in all aspects by uniting the athletes, front desk and fans. “If you have a good squad, you can win at least once. But let’s look at the Jeonbuk Hyundai case. It’s not just because the squad is good that the team almost wins for 7-8 years. It is because there is a consistent system and right culture from the front to the team.” As KFA experienced the mid- to long-term roadmap, the Ulsan Command Tower is a willingness to communicate and clarify future-oriented blueprints with the club from time to time, not limited to grades. Coach Hong said, “If there is a mid- to long-term plan, the player or the front desk focuses only on their role in order to reach the goal and philosophy. I want to make such a team too. It is a team that keeps improving the good parts without being shaken even when another manager comes after my term of office.”

Even though the youth team discovered several potential stocks, he spoke with confidence in the first group system, which was less utilized. Director Hong said, “After graduating from high school, it is not easy to adjust to the first professional team and play. However, it is necessary to have a clear direction and plan to improve whether the player is leasing the player to another team or gaining experience in K4 where the professional team B participates.” “In the past, it was only considered that the person who prepared the game and produced the result was important. During administration, I learned the importance of people who create such an environment.” He pledged to take the lead in building a culture of communication between the players and the front desk without noticing.

With the return of Korean soccer’Hot Icon’ coach Hong, the K-League story is enriched even more. Unfortunately, he is the’Living Legend’ of Pohang Steelers, Ulsan’s biggest rival. Since his debut as a pro in 1992, he has spent 7 seasons in Pohang alone in the K-League. It is also interesting that he visited the steel yard as the head of Ulsan this year. Director Hong said, “I have to go to the steel yard… “It is difficult to predict how you will feel. Even now, it’s strange,” he laughed. He is also interested in competing for the championship with Jeonbuk led by his close coach Kim Sang-sik, and also competing with Kim Nam-il’s Seongnam FC. Director Hong said, “It seems like it is good to have issues with fans. Compared to them, it is more than a second in Korea. I will challenge myself with the feeling of learning.”
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