48-Year-Old Moreno Takes Helm of Crisis-Hit South Korean National Football Team

[Anchor]

Spanish manager Robert Moreno has been appointed as the interim head coach to lead the crisis-hit South Korean national football team. He will initially manage six A-matches this year, and depending on his performance, could also helm the team at next year's Asian Cup.

Reporter Ha Seong-nyong has the details.

[Reporter]

Through its first-ever open recruitment process, the Korea Football Association (KFA) has chosen 48-year-old manager Moreno as the interim head coach.

Becoming the first Spanish manager to lead South Korean football, Moreno will take charge of six A-matches until November alongside five Spanish coaches, including chief coach Docampo.

However, the KFA stated that his contract could be extended through the Asian Cup in January next year, depending on the evaluation results.

Having started his coaching career in his 20s without professional playing experience, Moreno served as a coach for AS Roma, Barcelona, and the Spanish national team alongside world-renowned manager Luis Enrique. In 2019, he took over as head coach of the Spanish national team for eight months in place of Enrique, leading the squad to an undefeated streak of seven wins and two draws.

Since then, he has managed professional clubs in France, Spain, and Russia until last year, earning a reputation for data-driven tactical planning and exceptional opponent analysis.

A KFA official told SBS, "It was impressive how thoroughly he analyzed South Korean football over a long period," adding, "He received high marks for presenting a game model that maximizes our players' strengths through more aggressive tactical shifts."

Plan on residing in South Korea during his tenure, Moreno plans to enter the country as soon as his visa is issued.

(Video Editing: Park Jung-sam, Design: Han Heung-soo)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.