SOUTH KOREA TURNS TO FORMER SPAIN COACH MORENO AFTER WORLD CUP DISAPPOINTMENT

South Korea have appointed Spanish coach Robert Moreno as interim manager of the national football team following the country's disappointing campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and a period of controversy within its football administration.

The Korea Football Association announced Moreno's appointment on Tuesday, September 1, confirming that the 48-year-old will initially oversee the national team's friendly matches during the September and October international windows.

Moreno takes charge after Hong Myung-bo resigned from his position following South Korea's unexpected elimination from the World Cup at the group stage in June. His departure came amid wider criticism of the team's performance and the circumstances surrounding his appointment.

The coaching change has also come at a difficult period for the Korea Football Association. Police reportedly searched the federation's headquarters last month as part of an investigation into the process that led to Hong's appointment in 2024. The federation has also faced criticism over allegations concerning its treatment of foreign referees.

Moreno was selected through an open recruitment process conducted by the KFA, making him the first Spaniard to take charge of South Korea's senior men's national team.

His immediate assignment will include home friendly matches against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, followed by encounters with Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October. The federation is also expected to arrange additional fixtures during the November international window.

Although his current appointment is temporary, Moreno could remain in charge for the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, scheduled for January 7 to February 5, depending on his results and overall performance during the interim period.

Moreno brings international experience to the position, having briefly managed Spain in 2019 after Luis Enrique stepped away from the national team following the illness of his daughter. Moreno initially served as caretaker before being appointed permanently, but Luis Enrique returned to the role later that year.

The Spaniard has also managed several clubs, including AS Monaco, Granada and FC Sochi. He left the Russian club in September 2025 after a poor run of results.

Moreno is particularly known for his background in tactical analysis, data and video analysis. Earlier this year, he rejected reports that he had relied on ChatGPT or other artificial intelligence tools to prepare matches, select line-ups or choose players during his time at Sochi.

He maintained that technology had been an important part of his analytical work but insisted that football decisions were made through his own judgement and that of his coaching staff.

The KFA hopes Moreno can restore stability to the national team after a turbulent period and use the upcoming friendly matches to assess the squad ahead of the next major international competition.

For Moreno, the appointment represents another opportunity to establish himself at international level after previous spells with Spain and several European clubs.

His performance during the six-match interim period could ultimately determine whether South Korea decides to retain him beyond November and entrust him with leading the team into the 2027 Asian Cup.