Whether you think national team head coaches are insignificant of a position or not, every national football team goes through a cycle of managerial recruitment. Currently, Korea National Team head coach is Paulo Bento, supported by a staff of Portuguese and Korean/Canadian coaches. As much as I want stability out of the current KNT setup, anything can happen in football (recall Uli Stielike's fall from grace). Let us discuss possible candidates for KNT head coach. Why a candidate would be a good fit or not to take over team Korea.
Slavisa Jokanovic Nationality: Serbia Age: 51 (b. 1968) Notable Coaching Experience: Partizan (SER), Muangthong Utd (THA), Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR), Fullham, Watford (ENG), Al Gharafa (QAT). -Led Partizan to two consecutive doubles. -Refused to accept "Best coach in Serbia" award due to his feeling of responsibility of club's poor results (demonstrates responsibility). -Led Muangthong Utd to their third ever title. UNDEFEATED -Led Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv to their first UCL group stages in 11 years, beating FC Basel. -Led Watford to Premier League promotion, and almost won EFL Championship. -Led Fullham to Premier League. -This is a coach who seems to carry the team under his management to new heights.
I wouldn't rule him out entirely (bar the man's own ambitions) but he should work with a club side first before being seriously considered for KNT role. Regarding Hong Myung Bo, Positives: -He has experience managing Korea at the international level (albeit it ended on less than ideal terms to say the least) -He demonstrated potential at youth levels (London 2012 Bronze Medal) and his semi-finals at youth tournaments. -As a player, he accumulated experience and leadership. -Learned coaching under Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat, Pim Verbeek, etc. -Familiar with Korean players Reasons for Concern: -KNT under Hong was frustrating. -He's been out of the game for some time now. -His last coaching role at Hangzhou Greentown wasn't that stellar.
Given the political climate between coaches and board of management in KFA I think, coaching will always be an issue...
Sérgio Conceição Nationality: Portugal Current Job: FC Porto Head Coach Age: 44 -Sounds like this man knows how to get teams to punch above their weight and for relatively top dogs, to punch appropriately. -Hidden gem. -KFA, put him on your shortlist. -Young https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sérgio_Conceição
Christophe Galtier Nationality: France Age: 53 Difficulty: Reach candidate Summary: Galtier started his coaching career as an assistant coach for various French clubs. He worked as the assistant for Alain Perrin (yes, the one whose China team lost to Stielike's Korea) across teams that include UAE side Al Ain. He has served in head coach capacity for Saint Etienne and LOSC Lille. Notable Accomplishments: Longest serving Ligue 1 coach (8 years at Saint-Etienne) Took over LOSC Lille in 2017 and reached 2nd place and 4th Let that sink in^ He took Lille to 2nd and 4th place of Ligue 1. Conclusion: Don't let his two club stint fool you. Galtier has been in the coaching game since 1999 and he his accomplishment in revitalizing LOSC Lille is something ambitious European clubs will take notes on. Thus, he will be a reach candidate for Korea. But who knows what the near future has in store? Yes, he does not have experience managing a national side, but his long stint at Saint-Etienne demonstrates his willingness to stick to one project. Plus he has experience in the middle-east, so it won't be his first culture shock.