Spanish coach Robert Moreno will take over as interim manager of South Korea's national football team.
The Korea Football Association approved Moreno's appointment at a board meeting held at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, on the 1st. All five assistant coaches on his staff are also Spanish. Moreno fills the vacancy left by former head coach Hong Myung-bo, who stepped down after the team failed to advance beyond the group stage at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He will lead the squad through six internationals — four in September and October, and two in November. His debut on the South Korean bench comes in a home friendly against Ecuador on the 24th of this month. The association selected Moreno through an open recruitment process that included a document review, an online interview and an in-person meeting. Domenec Torrent, Jesus Casas and Erwin Koeman were also among the finalists, according to the association.
The contract runs through November 27, but it could be extended. The association included a clause allowing Moreno to stay on through the 2027 Asian Cup, which begins in January next year, depending on how the team performs in the six matches. Strong results at the Asian Cup would further improve his chances of being named permanent manager.
Calls for a sweeping overhaul of South Korean football have intensified since the World Cup, leaving Moreno's new-look side under sharp scrutiny. Moreno has been promoted from interim to permanent manager before, with Spain. He took charge of three matches in March 2019 when Luis Enrique stepped away to care for his ailing daughter, then was appointed permanent manager that June. He had to leave the post five months later when Enrique returned. Moreno served as an assistant coach at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2017, and after leaving the Spain job he managed AS Monaco in France, Granada in Spain and Sochi in Russia. He is regarded as strong in data-driven tactical design, opponent analysis and defining player roles, though he produced no clear success at clubs such as AS Monaco and Granada.
"Moreno has a deep understanding of South Korean football and put forward a range of tactical options. His enthusiasm left a strong impression," said Hyun Young-min, head of the association's technical committee. "We hope the staff Moreno has assembled, chosen through a demanding process, will do their part in changing the mood around the national team and improving its performance."
