Incheon Manager Yoon Jong-hwan: "Grateful to be Mentioned for National Team Job, But It's Not My Place Yet"

Incheon United manager Yoon Jong-hwan, who has been mentioned as a candidate for the next head coach of the South Korean national football team, has expressed his aspirations for the position while drawing a line, stating that it is not yet his place.

Ahead of the K League 1 Round 16 match against FC Seoul held at Seoul World Cup Stadium today (July 5), Yoon told reporters, "I have always said that becoming the national team head coach is a dream, but I do not think I am in a position to reach that level yet."

He added, "I am grateful to be mentioned, but I still have a lot to improve."

The national team head coach position is currently vacant.

South Korea finished 34th overall in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America, which was expanded to 48 participating nations.

The team failed to advance to the Round of 32 after placing 10th in the wild-card competition among the 12 third-placed teams in each group, leading to the resignation of head coach Hong Myung-bo, who took responsibility for the poor performance.

Former and current professional team managers, including Yoon, are being discussed as candidates for the next head coach.

Regarding the results of this World Cup, Yoon said, "As a manager, it is heartbreaking and bitter," adding, "I believe we always have to carry that burden. When things go well, you soar, but when they don't, you fall."

He continued, "I think no one can understand that feeling unless they have stood in that position themselves."

Yoon, who began his professional managerial career at Sagan Tosu in Japan in 2011, has coached Ulsan, Cerezo Osaka, Muangthong United, and JEF United before taking the helm at Gangwon FC in 2023.

In the 2024 season, he led Gangwon to a second-place finish in the league, the club's best performance in history, and received the K League Manager of the Year award.

After leaving Gangwon following the breakdown of contract renewal negotiations, Yoon was appointed as the new manager of Incheon ahead of the 2025 season and led the team to promotion to K League 1 in just one year.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.