National Soccer Team, Temporary Head Coach… Appointed Do-hoon Kim
The Korea Football Association, which is having difficulties in appointing a new head coach, has decided to hold the June international match under a temporary head coach system.
The Korea Football Association announced on the 20th that the two 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 2nd qualifying matches to be held in June will be played under a temporary manager system.
Kim Do-hoon (54), Ulsan HD coach, was appointed as interim head coach. 안전놀이터
Korea will play the 5th game of the second preliminary round away to Singapore on the 6th of next month, and the 6th game against China at home on the 11th.
The Association said, “Negotiations to select the national team coach are continuing, so there is a possibility that the selection of the coach will not be finalized before the A-match in June.”
“As a result of holding a National Team Strength Enhancement Committee meeting this morning to discuss this issue, we decided to hold two games in June.”
“We agreed to appoint Director Kim as the interim director,” he explained.
During his time as a player, Coach Kim played in the professional soccer K-League and Japan J-League as a special striker.
He began his coaching career as coach of Seongnam Ilhwa (now Seongnam FC) in 2005, and took charge of Incheon United and Ulsan.
In 2020, he also led Ulsan to victory in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.
Starting in 2021, he took charge of Singapore Lion City for about a year.
Jeong Hae-seong, chairman of the Power Strengthening Committee, said, “Coach Do-hoon Kim has demonstrated ability and performance while building a diverse career as a leader,” and added, “His knowledge of the local environment, including leading the team to victory in the Singapore League, also served as a background for his appointment.”
This is the second time that the national team has played an international match under a temporary coach system, following the 3rd and 4th games of the World Cup 2nd qualifying round against Thailand in succession in March under the leadership of interim Coach Hwang Sun-hong.