February 27, (THEWILL) – The Korea Football Association (KFA), announced on Tuesday, that it has appointed Hwang Sun-hong, manager of the under-23 squad, to take over as interim head coach of the senior national team. This comes as the KFA seeks to fill the vacancy left by the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann, following the team’s exit in the semi-finals of the 2024 Asian Cup.
The 55-year-old led the under-23 side to Asian Games gold in 2022. He was also part of the iconic 2002 World Cup squad that reached the semi-finals under Guus Hiddink’s management. The National Team Committee, an advisory body to the KFA, stated that Hwang’s experience made him the “number one choice” to guide the team through their next 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Thailand in March.
According to Jung Hae-sung, chairman of the National Team Committee, Hwang’s appointment will enable more extensive discussions around appointing a permanent national team coach over the coming months. This process will involve assessing the playing philosophy and leadership style best suited to taking the team forward.
In addition to his interim senior team responsibilities, Hwang has been tasked with preparing the under-23 squad for the AFC Asian Cup starting in April. This tournament serves as an Olympic qualifier for the 2024 Paris Games.
Resolving tensions within the squad will also fall under Hwang’s remit, following recent conflicts between captain Son Heung-min and fellow player Lee Kang-in.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
