KFA going Dutch again

By appointing Dick Advocaat, the Korean Football Association has got the experienced coach that it wanted and in appointing his assistant and 2002 deputy, Pim Verbeek, as number two, the required knowledge of Korean soccer has also been covered.

Among the Korean newspapers and media, the 58 year-old`s name has been mentioned prominently for a week now, despite the veil of secrecy that the KFA had drawn around the procedure of replacing Jo Bonfrere who resigned on August 22.

"Dick Advocaat will lead the South Korean national team from Oct.1," said KFA media director Yoo Young-cheol and added, "The contract will run until the end of next year`s World Cup final. There is an option to extend it if both parties agree."

"We first contacted Advocaat on Sept. 6 and he responded positively to our offer," continued Yoo, "Advocaat expressed a strong wish to help the South Korean team perform well in the 2006 World Cup finals."

It is eleven years since the former tough tackling midfielder led his native Netherlands to the quarterfinals of the 1994 World Cup in America. There, the talented European side was unfortunate to come up against a Brazil team inspired by flamboyant str

iker Romario and the South Americans triumphed 3-2.

It was no disgrace to lose to the eventual champions but Advocaat decided to return to club football and took the reins at PSV Eindhoven, the club that now employs Guus Hiddink. After adding the Dutch Cup and Dutch Championship to his resume, he then moved to Scotland to take over at Glasgow giants, Rangers.

There was some initial success in the league but soon neighbors Celtic had become undisputed kings of the city and Advocaat returned home for a second spell coaching the national team which had failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. he Netherlands reached the semifinals of the European Championships last summer before being defeated by Portugal.

Advocaat will arrive in the country on September 29, speak to the press the next day and prepare for his first game in charge, a friendly against Iran on October 12.

Along with Verbeek, who was Guus Hididnk`s assistant from December 2000-June 2002, the strict disciplinarian signed a one-year contract with the United Arab Emirates less than two months ago but has found the chance of another World Cup to tough to resist.

(johnduerden@hotmail.com)









By John Duerden Contributing writer