Robert Moreno Takes Over as Interim South Korea Coach After World Cup Setback

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has appointed Robert Moreno, former Spain manager, as the interim coach of the South Korean national team. This move follows the resignation of Hong Myung-bo after South Korea's disappointing exit in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup held in North America.

Moreno, 48, steps into a challenging role as he becomes the first Spaniard to lead South Korea's national team. His contract could be extended for the upcoming Asian Cup depending on his performance in the coming months.

Background and Appointment

The KFA conducted an open recruitment to find a new head coach after Hong's departure. The organization is currently facing internal difficulties, including police investigations related to hiring controversies and allegations involving inappropriate conduct towards foreign referees, which led to a public apology from the association.

Moreno's international coaching experience includes stepping in for Luis Enrique with Spain in 2019 when Enrique took leave due to his daughter's illness. Their professional relationship later soured when Enrique returned ahead of Euro 2020, publicly accusing Moreno of disloyalty.

Addressing Controversies

Before joining South Korea, Moreno managed clubs such as Monaco and Granada. Russian media accused him of using artificial intelligence technology during his tenure at Sochi, claims he strongly denied in a letter to Spanish newspaper Marca. He stated, "I have never used ChatGPT or any AI to prepare matches, decide line-ups or choose players. That is completely false." He emphasized that decisions are made with his coaching staff and highlighted his background in data and video analysis as key to his early career success.

Upcoming Fixtures and Goals

Moreno will oversee several home friendlies: against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, followed by matches versus Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October. Additional fixtures may be scheduled in November. The KFA confirmed that Moreno might continue as head coach for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled from January 7 to February 5, pending a review of his team's performance.

These games present crucial chances for Moreno to rebuild trust and confidence in the South Korean national team among fans and officials alike.