The newly appointed manager of the South Korean men's national football team said he was honored to take on the role and pledged to prove himself on the pitch despite his short-term contract.
“It is an honor, and it is a responsibility. I have known and respected Korean football for years, and now my job is to work for it,” Roberto Moreno wrote on his official website Friday.
“I will not promise results: I promise work, honesty and respect. Whatever we have to say, we will say it on the pitch,” he added.
The Korea Football Association approved Moreno’s nomination during its board meeting on Tuesday. He will be in charge of the national team’s six international matches.
The post had been vacant since Hong Myung-bo stepped down following South Korea’s group-stage exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Spaniard previously served as an assistant coach at FC Barcelona, one of the world's most decorated clubs, under Luis Enrique, and with the Spanish national team before briefly taking charge of Spain. He is the first Spanish coach to lead South Korea's men's national team.
Moreno's first match will be a friendly against Ecuador at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on Sept. 24. Korea will then play Uruguay on Sept. 28, Venezuela on Oct. 2 and Uzbekistan on Oct. 6, followed by two more matches in November.
His three-month contract reportedly includes an option to remain in charge through next year’s Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, depending on the team’s performance in the six matches.
Meanwhile, Moreno said he would speak to the media at his introductory press conference in Korea after obtaining his visa.
junheee@heraldcorp.com
