Cho Kwang-rae tapped as national football coach

By Yoon Chul

Staff reporter

Gyeongnam FC manager Cho Kwang-rae has virtually been tapped as the new coach of the South Korean national football team. The Korea Football Association (KFA) is scheduled to open a technical committee meeting, Wednesday, with Cho having emerged as the most prominent candidate.

The KFA has in somewhat of a quandary in filling the position vacated by former manager Huh Jung-moo who resigned after the World Cup in South Africa.

“At the technical committee meeting Cho will be the first candidate to be considered for the position,” Cho Young-jeung, director of association’s technical and education department, said.

“Unless there are negative views among members, Cho will likely be chosen as the new coach,” he added.

Cho has accepted a preliminary offer, reversing his earlier stance.

“It is a great honor to be the national team manager,” Cho said. “The position is coveted by all managers including me,’’ added Cho.

“I got a call from the department, Monday, telling me that I was the sole candidate. The official told me to prepare for the job as I would get a chance for sure,” he said.

Cho said his first consideration is the fans of Gyeongnam and the team. “I asked the KFA official to allow me to manage Gyeongnam as well as the national team until they find a new manager,” Cho said.

“Fortunately I got a positive response,” added Cho.

The national football team manager post has been dubbed “Poison in the Holy Grail.” Being a manager of the national team is an honor but he usually is under severe pressure for results from the country’s fierce fans. Especially at this time after former manager Huh successfully led the Korean team to the round of 16 for the first time in an overseas World Cup.

That puts his replacement under even more stress.

The KFA originally offered Huh a second spell, which he refused, and then offered a promotion to his deputy Jung Hae-sung, who also turned it down.

It approached Cho, Ulsan Tigers manager Kim Ho-kon and Jeonbuk Motors boss Choi Kwang-hee, but initially all three refused.

If Cho is confirmed as new boss, his debut match will be on August 11 against Nigeria.

The national team is scheduled to play friendlies against Iran on September 7 and Japan on October 12 to prepare for the Asian Cup to be held from January 7 to 29 in Qatar.