Huh Is New Boss for National Team
By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Chunnam Dragons manager Huh Jung-moo was appointed as the new skipper for South Korea's national football team.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Friday that the 52-year-old, who led his team to back-to-back FA Cup championships, would direct the rudderless national team in the third preliminary round of the 2010 World Cup in February.
``We have been through the negotiations with Huh and the Dragons, and he has agreed to manage the team,'' said KFA spokesman Yoo Young-cheol.
Added Huh: ``Leading the national squad is a really heavy duty. Once I take the job, I will do my best to live up to expectations.''
The job has been vacant since Pim Verbeek resigned in July.
With the top candidates, Gerard Houllier of France and Mick McCarthy of Ireland, out of contention on Thursday, the technical committee narrowed its options to a list of domestic coaches that included Seongnam Chunma manager Kim Hak-beom, Incheon United boss Chang Woe-ryong, Suwon BlueWings leader Cha Bum-kun and Huh.
After a series of discussions, the football governing body chose Huh due to his grasp of players and strong superintendence.
With him stepping into the job again, the Korean national team will be led by a Korean coach for the first time in seven years.
Huh, a former PSV Eindhoven midfielder, had led the national team for two years from October 1998 to November 2000, before Dutchman Guus Hiddink came to Korea.
Following Hiddink's departure, Humberto Coelho, Johannes Bonfrere, Dick Advocaat and Verbeek have commanded the team.
Huh played for the national team from 1974 to 1986 and has headed Chunnam since 2005.