INTERNATIONAL
Shin Tae-yong appointed as South Korea national team coach
The 45 year old replaces German Uli Stieleke ahead of key Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
On Tuesday, the Korean Football Association appointed Shin Tae-yong as head coach on a contract that expires until after the 2018 World Cup.
Shin, 46, will replace the German Uli Stieleke, who was fired in June after a series of poor results in the World Cup qualifiers.
According to Kim Ho-gon, chairman of the Korean Football Association’s technical committee, Shin is “the best person to fix Korean football right now.”
Experienced coach
The newly appointed Shin, directed the Under-23 South Korea side to the last eight of the 2016 Rio Olympics and the Under-20 squad to the second round of the 2017 World Cup.
He was No. 2 to Stieleke before he was appointed as head coach for the U-20 squad on November.
Shin was also a manager for Seongnam FC, with which he won the Asian Champions League title in 2010 and the Korean FA Cup trophy in 2011. A former midfielder, Shin made 23 appearances for South Korea from 1992 to 1997.
World Cup hopes in the balance
South Korea stand second in Group A in the third round of qualification for the 2018 World Cup with two games to be played.
Iran has already assured the top spot in the group, while South Korea are struggling with Uzbekistan, who are a point beneath in the third position. Only the two top teams will qualify directly to the World Cup.
South Korea will face Iran on August 31, however the decisive match will be played in Tashkent, when the 2002 semifinalists visit Uzbekistan on September 5.
'Although the team is in a difficult situation, I believe that Shin Tae-yong will be able to demonstrate his abilities,' said Kim Ho-gon.