Paulo Bento Expresses Interest in Returning as South Korea National Team Head Coach

It has been confirmed that former South Korea national football team head coach Paulo Bento has expressed his desire to return to the vacant head coach position to the Korea Football Association (KFA).

According to a KFA official on Tuesday (July 7), Bento recently conveyed his interest in the national team head coach position through an association official with whom he is acquainted.

The KFA official explained, "No formal documents have been submitted to the National Team Committee yet. However, Bento did communicate his interest in the South Korean head coach position through a staff member he knows."

While he has not officially submitted an application as the process for appointing a successor has not yet been finalized, it is confirmed that Bento has expressed his intention to lead the South Korean national team once again.

The position of national team head coach is currently vacant.

Following South Korea's failure to advance to the Round of 32 at the 2026 North and Central America World Cup after a competitive wild-card race (finishing 34th overall), former head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned, taking responsibility for the poor performance.

The KFA began the search for a new head coach by holding the first meeting of the National Team Committee on July 3 to initiate the appointment process for the next manager.

As the appointment process is in its early stages, Bento's intention has not yet been formally presented as an agenda item to the National Team Committee.

Bento previously led the national team for approximately four years and four months starting in September 2018, making him the longest-serving head coach in the history of the South Korean national team for a single tenure.

He achieved a significant milestone by leading the team to the Round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, but left South Korea after the tournament without renewing his contract.

After taking the helm of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) national team in July 2023, he stepped down from the position in May of last year and is currently on a break.

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