Seoul: The coach of South Korean club Gyeongnam FC said Tuesday he has been picked to take over the national team, vowing to “bring joy” to Korean fans.
Cho Kwang-Rae told Yonhap news agency he has been offered the job by the Korean Football Association, following the resignation of Huh Jung-Moo.
The KFA said its technical committee would meet Wednesday to select a new coach but declined to confirm it would be Cho.
Huh’s team advanced to the second round of the World Cup in South Africa -- South Korea’s best record on foreign soil at the tournament. The KFA had wanted Huh, 55, to stay on.
“It’s a great honour to be the national team leader,” Cho, 56, told Yonhap. “I’m not scared of taking the helm of the national team. I’ve been working hard to be a good leader. I want to make a team that will bring joy to the Korean people.”
Cho was a midfielder for the national squad in the 1970s and 1980s.
Gyeongnam lie fourth in the 15-team K-League after 12 games.
South Korea are scheduled to play a friendly against Nigeria on August 11 ahead of the Asian Cup in Qatar in January.
Bureau Report