Hong Myung-bo returns to the field as Ulsan new manager

-“I experienced the national team, the coach of the national team by age group, and even the administration of the Chinese league command tower, but there was a regret in one side of my heart. I think that was the K-League manager job. I am grateful for being able to contribute as a manager to the K-League who made me exist.”

‘Eternal Libero’ Hong Myung-bo (51, photo), the executive director of the Korea Football Association, leads the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup quarterfinal myth. This is the first time that he has been in charge of the domestic professional team command tower. Ulsan said on the 24th, “Managing Director Hong Myung-bo was appointed as the 11th coach of the team. Director Hong, who values’One Team’, has decided that he is the right person to lead the team with his strong charisma.”

After graduating from Korea University, coach Hong, who wore a Pohang uniform in 1992, advanced to Japan during the 1997 season and returned to Pohang in 2002 after playing for Shonan Bellmare and Kashiwa Reisol. Since 2003, he has been active in LA Galaxy in the US for two seasons. As for the national team, starting with the Italian tournament in 1990, he competed in the World Cup four times in a row and became the best defender of Korean football. Among Korean players, he has the most A match (136 matches) record.

After retiring as a player, he began his career as a coach for the national team in 2005, and was recognized for his ability as a leader by winning the first Olympic medal in Korean football history at the 2012 London Olympics. In June 2013, as coach Choi Kang-hee took over, he suddenly took over the national team A and went to the Brazil World Cup the following year, but after failing to advance to the round of 16, he resigned from the national team. After leaving Korea for a while, coach Hong, who led the professional football Hangzhou Lucheng from 2015, was selected as the managing director of the Korean Football Association in November 2017 and transformed into a soccer administrator. Director Hong said, “I am grateful to be in charge of Ulsan, who leads the K League. I will do my best to make Ulsan an example in all aspects, including grades.” Ulsan, who won the Asian Football Federation Champions League this season, is set to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup next February in Doha, Qatar. New coach Hong meets Ulsan fans through an online press conference on January 7th next year. The Ulsan team will be convened on this day and will leave for Qatar after training in Tongyeong, Gyeongsangnam-do. Reporter Seung-Geon Lee [email protected]