Roberto Moreno, a Spanish coach, has been appointed as the interim head coach of the South Korean national soccer team. Moreno, who has no professional playing experience, began his career as a video analyst and is known for his tactical approach that emphasizes possession-based passing and strong pressing. However, concerns have been raised regarding his management skills and communication with players.
The Korea Football Association approved the appointment of Moreno and five other interim coaching staff during its seventh board meeting held on September 1 at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. This decision comes about two months after former coach Hong Myung-bo resigned following the team's exit from the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America. This marks the first time a Spanish national has taken charge of the South Korean A national team, and it is also the first instance of the association selecting a head coach through a public recruitment process.
Moreno's contract runs until November 27. He will lead the team in six matches, starting with games against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, followed by matches against Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October, and two additional games in November. The association has included a clause in his contract that allows for an extension based on the results of these six matches, potentially leading to an extended term through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Born in 1977, Moreno differs from his predecessors as he is not a former player. He has never played professionally and began his coaching education at the age of 14, encouraged by a physical education teacher. He took charge of a youth team in his hometown at 16 and later joined FC Barcelona B as a video analyst.
Moreno gained prominence by working alongside current Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique. He joined Enrique as an assistant coach at AS Roma in 2011 and supported him at Celta Vigo, Barcelona, and the Spanish national team for nearly eight years. During his time as Barcelona's first assistant coach from 2014 to 2017, he contributed to the team's European treble, focusing on opponent analysis, match planning, and set-piece tactics.
His opportunity to lead the Spanish national team came in March 2019 when Enrique stepped away due to a family illness. Moreno took charge temporarily and was later promoted to head coach, guiding Spain to qualify for UEFA Euro 2020. He remained unbeaten in nine matches, with seven wins and two draws, and recorded four wins and two draws in six matches as head coach before leaving the position when Enrique returned.
However, his subsequent coaching stints have been less successful. He left AS Monaco after seven months in late 2019, with a record of five wins, three draws, and five losses, and criticism that his promised style of play was not implemented. He attributed his departure to a new sports director bringing in their own staff.
At Granada, he faced similar challenges, attempting to implement a possession-based style with a team that favored direct play. His tenure ended after a poor start to the 2021-2022 season, with a record of five wins, ten draws, and twelve losses in 27 league matches, leading to his dismissal as the team hovered just above the relegation zone. Most recently, he achieved promotion with FC Sochi but was dismissed after just one point from seven matches in the following season.
Overall, Moreno has managed 104 matches across three clubs since leaving the Spanish national team, with a record of 32 wins, 34 draws, and 38 losses, resulting in a win rate of approximately 30.8%.
Moreno's tactical style is distinct, favoring a 4-2-3-1 formation, although he has also employed 4-3-3, 3-5-2, and 4-4-2 formations in his previous roles. His approach involves short passing from the back, maintaining player positioning and spacing to relieve pressure, and immediate pressing to regain possession when the ball is lost.
Reports indicate that Moreno was selected over other candidates, such as Domenec Torrent and Jesus Casas, due to his strong data utilization and opponent analysis skills. He is known for dedicating significant time to opponent analysis and believes that while players are essential, analytical tools are necessary for success.
Despite his impressive background, Moreno has faced scrutiny over his reliance on AI tools, particularly during his time at Sochi. Reports from Qatari media outlet beIN Sports suggested that his dismissal was partly due to poor performance and excessive use of AI tools like ChatGPT for training programs, player selection, and travel schedules, raising concerns within the club.
Specific examples of this reliance were highlighted, including a training schedule that required players to sleep for only 28 hours before a match. Former Sochi director Andrei Orlov noted that one player selected through ChatGPT failed to score in ten matches.
Moreno has denied these claims, stating in an interview with Spanish media outlet AS that he never used AI for player selection or match preparation, calling it a complete falsehood. He acknowledged using AI for translating Russian, a language he is not fluent in, but emphasized that AI had no role in sports-related decisions.
He added, "My football career began with data and video analysis. This is my area of expertise and has set me apart since the beginning of my career. Like all coaching staff, we utilize various analytical tools, and technology helps process information quickly. However, the final decisions related to sports always rest with the coaching staff."
Concerns also linger regarding his player management skills. During his time at Granada, he reportedly clashed with players due to a lack of empathy. At Sochi, he faced backlash for blaming players for poor results, including demanding that they return part of their salaries after a heavy defeat.
Moreno has brought back his former assistant Eduardo Docampo to join his coaching staff, which consists entirely of Spanish nationals, including Hasint Magrinya (analysis and training methodology), Victor Bravo DeSoto (coach), Javier Chocaro (physical coach), and Nico Bosch (goalkeeper coach).
Moreno is expected to arrive in South Korea in early to mid-September after completing visa preparations. His first test will be the match against Ecuador later in September.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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