South Korea Names Ex-Spain Coach Robert Moreno Temporary Football Manager

SEOUL, Sept 1 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- Former Spain head coach Robert Moreno was named the temporary manager of the South Korean men's national football team Tuesday, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) approved Moreno's nomination during its board meeting at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, some 90 kilometres south of Seoul.

Moreno, 48, will be in charge of South Korea's next six international matches.

The Taegeuk Warriors will host Ecuador on Sept 24, Uruguay on Sept 28, Venezuela on Oct 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct 6.

The KFA is also trying to schedule two more matches inside the Nov 9-17 FIFA international window.

After those November matches, South Korea will compete in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia starting in January.

The KFA said Moreno is signed through Nov. 27 but he will be given a chance to serve in a full-time role for the Asian Cup, depending on the team's performance this autumn.

The men's national team head coaching position had been vacant since Hong Myung-bo resigned in late June to take the fall for the country's group-stage exit from the FIFA World Cup.

Instead of rushing to hire a full-time replacement ahead of the September-October match period, the KFA opted to hire a caretaker boss instead.

Moreno coached his native Spain for nine matches in 2019, with Luis Enrique on a leave of absence. Moreno then went on to coach three clubs -- AS Monaco in France, Granada in Spain and FC Sochi in Russia.

Moreno previously worked as a scout for FC Barcelona and served as an assistant for Enrique at AS Roma, Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona.

"Even at a relatively young age, he has coached one of the very best clubs in the world and has led national teams," the KFA said. "He is able to formulate tactics and analyse opponents using advanced data."

-- BERNAMA-YONHAP