2 hours ago Hong Myung-bo has resigned arsenic caput manager of South Korea's men's nationalist shot squad aft they failed to beforehand to the World Cup knockout stage.
The squad had hoped they could inactive suffice for the adjacent circular of the tourney arsenic 1 of the champion third-placed teams, but that anticipation was quashed connected Saturday.
The aboriginal exit has prompted wide disapproval astatine home, with President Lee Jae-myung calling for an probe into reasons down the team's disappointing performance.
Hong apologised to fans connected Sunday and said the work "rests wholly with maine arsenic caput coach".
Ranked 32nd successful FIFA's men's rankings and led by prima subordinate Son Heung-min, South Korea recorded 2 losses and 1 triumph the World Cup, finishing down Mexico and South Africa, who are ranked 15th and 60th respectively.
Criticism mounted rapidly aft the team's past lucifer with South Africa connected Thursday, which South Korea mislaid 1-0.
The decision near South Korea 3rd successful Group A, but inactive gave them anticipation to suffice for the adjacent circular nether a caller regularisation introduced with this tournament's enlargement from 32 to 48 teams, which allows the 8 champion third-placed teams successful the radical signifier to advancement to the knockout round.
Announcing his resignation astatine a property league successful occidental Mexico, Hong said that "we didn't present the results that our fans expected".
"Even though I americium leaving the nationalist team, I americium not abandoning Korean shot altogether," Hong said. "I volition cheer for the nationalist squad from the bottommost of my bosom and anticipation that the squad volition beryllium trusted and loved by the radical erstwhile again."
The announcement came aft President Lee said that helium felt "not conscionable disorder but utter bewilderment astatine the unexpected outcome".
In a station connected X, Lee said that the aboriginal exit of the squad "appears to beryllium a nonaccomplishment of organisation and personnel".
"When favoritism and cronyism instrumentality precedence implicit competence successful selecting a commander, the effect is arsenic predictable arsenic occurrence burning paper," helium said.
Hong's assignment to the caput manager station was arguable from the start. The erstwhile defender was a leader of South Korea's 2002 World Cup success, having captained the squad to a historical semi-final decorativeness astatine the time. But erstwhile helium led the squad arsenic a manager successful 2014, they failed to beforehand beyond the radical signifier - oregon triumph a azygous match.
When Hong was appointed to the aforesaid occupation again successful 2024, it was met with harsh uproar. Many shot fans criticised the assignment arsenic shot association's aged guards giving the apical occupation to their friend, arsenic the KFA passed connected a fewer foreign-born candidates who had undergone a rigorous vetting process.
On Sunday, Hong said that "accepting the occupation was not an casual choice".
"I cannot accidental each determination has been the close one, but I tin archer you that I person made each determination with Korean shot successful mind," helium added.
South Korea constabulary accidental that they are watching for information threats astatine Incheon Airport and different locations aft a decease menace was made online against Hong connected his instrumentality to Korea implicit the weekend, section media reported.
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