Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korean Football Association, looks at the starting lineup for the match between South Korea and Thailand. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Korea Bizwire) –New allegations have emerged regarding the Korean Football Association’s (KFA) recent appointment of a national team coach, casting a shadow over the selection process.
On September 19, a figure identifying himself as the CEO of JP Sports Group, Pietro Jun, took to social media to voice concerns about the KFA’s decision to appoint Hong Myung-bo as the new head coach of the South Korean national football team.
“I am revealing the truth about the selection process for the Korean national football team coach to the people of South Korea,” Jun declared in his post.
The crux of Jun’s exposé centers around Hervé Renard, a name that frequently surfaced as a potential candidate following the dismissal of former coach Jürgen Klinsmann. According to Jun, “I wanted to contribute to Korean football without seeking financial gain or commissions. Coach Hervé Renard patiently waited until the last moment for a response from the football association.”
Jun went on to express his dismay at the situation, stating, “However, I was deeply shocked by the association’s disrespectful handling of the matter, and ultimately found myself in the uncomfortable position of having to apologize to Coach Renard.”
Renard, a French national with an impressive coaching résumé, had emerged as a strong contender for the position. His extensive experience includes coaching stints with Zambia, Angola, Ivory Coast, LOSC Lille, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and the French women’s national team since beginning his managerial career in 1999.
Many South Korean soccer fans were excited about the prospect of having a tactical coach such as Hervé Renard, Jesse Marsch, Luis de la Fuente, Graham Stephen Potter, and other famous soccer coaches known for their tactical prowess. However, the controversy over the selection of the Korean national soccer team’s head coach, which ended up disappointing Korean soccer fans’ hopes and showing major problems in the selection process, is likely to have a major impact on the upcoming World Cup qualifiers. (Photo courtesy of Spanish Football Association-Chelsea-French Football Association websites)
The 55-year-old coach’s credentials are particularly noteworthy. He led both Zambia and Ivory Coast to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, cementing his reputation as a skilled tactician. More recently, Renard made headlines during the 2022 Qatar World Cup when his Saudi Arabian team stunned the football world by defeating Lionel Messi’s Argentina 2-1.
Despite Renard’s strong candidacy, negotiations reportedly broke down due to issues in the selection process. Chung Hae-sung, who chaired the committee tasked with choosing Klinsmann’s replacement and was heavily involved in the coach selection, previously stated that Renard was removed from the candidate list due to sudden changes in meeting locations during the interview process.
Park Joo-ho, a member of the selection committee, shared on his YouTube channel, “We had set up a meeting, but two days before, (Renard) said he couldn’t make it. We agreed to change the location. But at the last minute, it changed again. The location was moved to somewhere in Africa. In any case, the location was changed to a place we couldn’t go, so we couldn’t meet.”
However, Jun’s account contradicts these claims. He asserts, “False information about the coach spread through the media. Despite accepting all conditions, including salary and living arrangements, the association ignored this. It seemed as if Hong Myung-bo was appointed before Renard was given a fair chance, as if there was a predetermined script.”
The coaches’ group also criticized the frequent changes to the KFA’s coach selection process under Chung’s leadership since 2013. (Yonhap)
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
