Robert Moreno, chosen as the "interim firefighter" for South Korean football which has fallen into crisis, has arrived in the country along with his coaching staff to begin full-scale preparations to lead the national team through six A-matches.

Moreno touched down at Incheon International Airport today (the 13th) accompanied by five coaching staff members who will assist him.

Following the resignation of former head coach Hong Myung-bo after the team's group-stage exit at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, the Korea Football Association (KFA) sought an interim leader through an open recruitment process in accordance with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's regulations for national team selection and operation.

The KFA appointed Moreno as the interim head coach on the 1st, stating that he demonstrated exceptional enthusiasm and a high level of understanding of South Korean football during the in-person interview process.

Moreno served as an assistant coach for FC Barcelona in Spain from 2014 to 2017, briefly managed the Spanish national team in 2019, and has since led clubs including Monaco in France, Granada in Spain, and Sochi in Russia.

He has formed his coaching staff with assistant coach Eduardo Docampo, with whom he worked at Sochi; tactical analysis and training methodology expert Jacint Magriña; coach Víctor Bravo Desoto, who has coaching experience in the lower tiers of Spanish football; fitness coach Javier Chocarro, who has worked in major European leagues; and goalkeeping coach Nico Bosch, who has a 10-year background in La Liga.

The KFA finalized the composition of the coaching staff by adding domestic coaches Cho Yong-hyung and Lee Jae-hong.

Moreno will manage a total of six A-matches, including four matches during the September–October international window and two matches in November.

His contract runs until November 27, with the possibility of an extension.

The KFA included a provision in his contract to entrust him with the helm through the 2027 Asian Cup in January of next year, depending on the results of the evaluation of these six matches.

Moreno's first task upon arrival today is to announce the national team players who will compete in the four consecutive A-matches scheduled for September and October.

The national team will face Ecuador on the 24th at Suwon World Cup Stadium and play against Uruguay on the 28th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

Additionally, they will play Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on October 2 and meet Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium on the 6th.

Having begun the process of evaluating talent for the inaugural "Team Moreno" since his appointment as interim head coach, Moreno is scheduled to hold an official inauguration press conference at 2 p.m. tomorrow (the 14th) at the Korea Football Center in Cheonan, where he will also unveil the roster of players selected for the September and October A-matches.

(Photo: Yonhap News)