Seol Ki-hyeon, a key player in South Korea's historic run to the semifinals of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, has been appointed as the head coach of Gimhae FC in the K League 2.
The club announced on October 28 that Seol has been named the sixth head coach in its history.
Seol will greet fans for the first time during the home match against Cheonan City FC on November 1, before officially taking charge of the team in the home game against Hwaseong FC on November 7.
During his playing career, Seol was a prominent figure in South Korean football, having played in major European leagues in Belgium and England. He represented the national team in 82 matches, scoring 19 goals. Notably, he scored a dramatic equalizer against Italy in the Round of 16 during the 2002 World Cup, helping South Korea advance to the quarterfinals.
After retiring, Seol began his coaching career as the head coach of the football team at Sungkyunkwan University. He later served as an assistant coach for the national team and led Gyeongnam FC in the K League 2 from 2020 for four years, guiding the team to the playoffs three times.
Founded in January 2008, Gimhae FC made its debut in K League 2 this year. As of October 28, the team is at the bottom of the league standings with a record of 3 wins, 8 draws, and 17 losses, totaling 17 points. Following a poor run of results, the previous coach stepped down, and the team has been operating under an interim coach.
The club plans to leverage Seol's extensive experience as both a player and coach to reorganize the team and establish a stable operational framework.
Seol expressed his feelings about the appointment, stating, "I feel a great sense of responsibility in taking on the role of head coach at Gimhae FC. I believe that results on the field are the most important aspect of football. I will actively communicate with the players to enhance the team's organization and competitiveness, striving to deliver good performances and results for our fans in every match."
He added, "I will do my best to ensure that Gimhae FC becomes a club that instills pride in the citizens and fans."
Gimhae Mayor Jeong Yeong-du, the club's owner, remarked, "We believe that Seol Ki-hyeon, with his rich experience as a player and coach, is the right person to lead Gimhae FC to a new leap forward. We will do our utmost to unite the coach and players to improve our performance and grow into a club trusted by the citizens and fans."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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