Football
John Duerden, Asia correspondent 6y

Guus Hiddink won't return as South Korea technical director for World Cup

South Korea lost their first 2018 World Cup warm-up match to Russia 4-2 on Saturday, and have also lost any chance of working with 2002 boss Guus Hiddink next summer.

No sooner had the Taeguk Warriors sealed a ninth successive place in the global sporting event in September than reports started to surface that Hiddink could return for a second spell. The Dutchman led the team to the last four of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan.

It was sparked by comments from Hiddink who discussed the possibility of coming back to Seoul in some capacity.

The day before the defeat in Moscow, Lee Yong-Soo, the vice-president of the Korea Football Association (KFA) met with the former Real Madrid boss to discuss a role with the national team.

Shin Tae-Yong was appointed in July to replace Uli Stielike who was fired after poor results and performances in qualification, as head coach. But it was believed that Hiddink was offered the job as technical director of the national team.

"Coach Hiddink was thinking of a much bigger picture than just taking on an official post at the KFA," Lee told reporters. "And he also had ideas of helping foster inter-Korean exchange through football at this time of heightened tensions on the peninsula."

Such comments may be disappointing to Koreans. In September, a nationwide poll revealed that almost seven out of 10 in the country, disappointed at recent form, would like to see Hiddink return to the national fold in some capacity, whether as head coach or technical director.

For South Korea and Shin, there is a quick chance of redemption as the East Asians take on Morocco in Switzerland on Tuesday.

As for neighbours North Korea, they will be in AFC Asian Cup qualifying action against Lebanon in Beirut on Tuesday, after last Thursday's home match against Malaysia was postponed by the Asian Football Confederation.

 

  

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