By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Pohang Steelers have launched their hunt for a new manager.
According to the K-League outfit, it has trimmed down its list of potential candidates to fill the void created by the sudden departure by former coach Sergio Farias to six or seven.
The Brazilian manager, 42, told Steelers that he wanted to take a year off shortly after leading his squad to a third-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup last week.
However, on Saturday Farias agreed to a one-and-a-half year deal worth a reported $2.5 million (2.9 billion won) to coach Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahly, a two-time Saudi Premier League winner.
"Because he left so suddenly, we have had trouble finding a replacement,'' said a representative from the Steelers, which had signed Farias to a two-year extension in June.
"We now have six or seven candidates and are deliberating on which will be a fit with the team's strategy and philosophy.
"Hiring a new manager may be much more difficult than we expected, but we will try to get it done by early January.''
Although Pohang, whose players are scheduled to begin training in Japan on Jan. 25, wants to fill the position by early January, it is expected the process will take longer than that.
Farias took the helm of Steelers in 2005 and compiled an impressive list of achievements ― K-League title in 2007, FA Cup championship in 2008 and K-League Cup and Asian Champions League crowns in 2009.
The winning tradition established by Farias in Pohang is apparently scaring off some potential candidates, who are afraid of the backlash from fans that would result if the team does not continue to play up to that level.
The short offseason also makes Pohang's situation more difficult.
Because of their participation in the Club World Cup earlier this month, Steelers had the longest 2009 season of any K-League team, and with the South Africa World Cup set to take place starting on June 11, the domestic league is slated to kick off Feb. 27 about a month earlier than normal.
In addition, the Steelers start their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League title defense on Feb. 24.