SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - Former Spain head coach Robert Moreno was named temporary manager of South Korea's men's national football team Tuesday, taking over a side still dealing with the fallout from its early World Cup exit and a long-running scandal over the appointment of his predecessor.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) approved Moreno's appointment during a board meeting at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul.
Moreno, 48, will take charge of South Korea's next six international matches.
The Taegeuk Warriors will host Ecuador on Sept. 24, Uruguay on Sept. 28, Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6.
The KFA is also seeking to arrange two more matches during the Nov. 9-17 FIFA international window.
Moreno's contract runs through Nov. 27, but the KFA said he could be considered for the full-time job for the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia in January depending on the team's performance this fall.
The national team has been without a permanent coach since Hong Myung-bo resigned June 28 after South Korea failed to advance from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
South Korea opened the tournament with a 2-1 win over Czechia before suffering successive 1-0 defeats to co-host Mexico and South Africa. Hong stepped down after the team failed to qualify for the round of 32 as one of the best third-place finishers, saying he took full responsibility for the result.
His departure, however, revived a controversy that had followed him virtually throughout his two-year tenure.
Hong was appointed in July 2024 after a five-month KFA search for a successor to Jurgen Klinsmann. The association interviewed several foreign candidates before technical director Lee Lim-saeng approached Hong, then coach of K League club Ulsan HD, during a brief meeting near Hong's home.
The manner of his appointment immediately drew accusations of favoritism and a lack of transparency. Critics questioned why foreign candidates underwent formal interviews while Hong was offered the position through a markedly different process. Hong denied receiving preferential treatment.
A subsequent Culture Ministry audit found the KFA had violated its own rules and procedures in appointing both Hong and Klinsmann. It concluded that Lee did not have the proper authority to make the final recommendation and that the board approval of Hong came only after his selection had effectively been decided and announced.
The ministry's final audit identified 27 cases of improper or unlawful practices at the KFA and called for disciplinary action against senior officials, including then-President Chung Mong-gyu.
The controversy has continued well beyond Hong's resignation.
Hong and Chung, who has since stepped down as KFA president, were summoned to a National Assembly hearing on July 30 as lawmakers examined the association's management, Hong's appointment and South Korea's World Cup failure.
Police then raided KFA offices in Cheonan and Seoul on Aug. 6 as part of an investigation into allegations that senior officials improperly intervened in Hong's appointment. Hong had been questioned as a suspect two days earlier.
Against that backdrop, the KFA has opted against rushing into another permanent appointment, giving Moreno a six-match audition before deciding who will lead the team into the Asian Cup.
Moreno has experience with precisely that kind of temporary assignment.
He coached Spain for nine matches in 2019 after Luis Enrique stepped away from the national team for personal reasons.
Moreno later managed AS Monaco in France, Granada in Spain and FC Sochi in Russia, where he remained through last year.
Earlier in his career, he worked as a scout for FC Barcelona and served as an assistant to Enrique at AS Roma, Celta Vigo and Barcelona.
AJP Takeaways
Robert Moreno takes temporary charge: The former Spain coach will lead South Korea through six friendlies from September to November, with a possible full-time appointment for the Asian Cup at stake.
Hong scandal still hangs over KFA: A government audit found procedural violations in Hong Myung-bo's controversial 2024 appointment, which triggered parliamentary scrutiny and an ongoing police investigation.
KFA avoids another rushed permanent hire: After Hong resigned following South Korea's 2026 World Cup group-stage exit, the association is giving Moreno a six-match trial before choosing its next long-term coach.
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