Pro football club coach dies of heart attack

Cho Jin-ho, head coach of the second-tier South Korean pro football club Busan IPark FC, died of a heart attack Tuesday, team officials said. He was 44. An official with Busan said Cho collapsed near his residence in the morning while on his way to work. Cho was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead. Cho was one of South Korea's top football prospects in the 1990s. An energetic attacking midfielder, he played for South Korea at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1991 and 1993, before makin

Oct. 10, 2017

Pro football coaches say natl. team needs more fan support

Head coaches of South Korea's top six pro football clubs on Tuesday asked fans to trust the beleaguered men's national team boss Shin Tae-yong, saying he needs more time and support.South Korea, ranked 51st in the latest FIFA rankings, have yet to collect a victory under Shin, who took over the helm in July following Uli Stielike's exit. Shin managed to guide South Korea to the 2018 FIFA World Cup last month after getting two scoreless draws with Iran and Uzbekistan, but was criticized for the t

Oct. 10, 2017

Korean football body set to hire foreign assistants for natl. team

BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland -- South Korean football body is set to hire foreign assistants for the men's national team as head coach Shin Tae-yong will meet with job candidates in Germany this week. An official with the Korea Football Association said Monday that Shin will interview applicants for the national team's assistant and fitness coaching positions in Frankfurt, Germany, before the South Korean squad returns home from a friendly in Switzerland. South Korea, ranked 51st in the latest FIFA

Oct. 10, 2017

Top 6 football clubs enter final race for league title after split

Coaches of South Korea’s top six soccer clubs said Tuesday they are ready to put in their best efforts to take the league’s championship trophy in the remaining five matches.The K League Classic is operating under the split system, in which the 12 teams are divided into two tiers after their first 33 matches. Starting this weekend, they will play five more matches within their groups to conclude the 2017 season.Four-time champion Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors leads the way in the upper group, or Group

Oct. 10, 2017

Korea looking to end winless streak in football friendly vs. Morocco

South Korea will try to end their winless streak in international football when they take on Morocco this week. South Korea, ranked 51st in the latest FIFA rankings, will face No. 56 Morocco at Tissot Arena in Biel/Bienne in Switzerland on Tuesday. This is the second friendly match for South Korea after they qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup last month. South Korea have not collected a win in their last five matches. Since they beat Syria at home in the final Asian World Cup qualifying round

Oct. 9, 2017

Korea football coach vows not to select easygoing players

BIEL/BIENNE, Switzerland -- South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday players having easygoing mentality will not be selected for the national team as his side gear up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Shin's team arrived in Switzerland on Sunday to play a friendly match with Morocco. The Taeguk Warriors are scheduled to face the African side at Tissot Arena in Biel/Bienne on Tuesday. The match against Morocco is South Korea's second friendly since they confirmed a World Cup spot last mont

Oct. 9, 2017

Guus Hiddink turns down Korean job offer; still willing to help team

MOSCOW -- Former South Korean men's football head coach Guus Hiddink has turned down the country's offer of another position on the national team, though he's still willing to assist the squad for next year's FIFA World Cup, the national football federation said Saturday.The Korea Football Association said Hiddink also canceled his trip to Moscow, where South Korea are scheduled to face Russia in a friendly match later in the day.According to the association, KFA Vice President Lee Yong-soo met

Oct. 8, 2017

Korea football coach blames loss to Russia on defensive lapses

MOSCOW -- South Korea men's football head coach Shin Tae-yong blamed defensive lapses for the 4-2 loss to Russia in a friendly Saturday.South Korea gave up two goals and defender Kim Ju-young scored two own goals in the deflating loss at the VEB Arena in Moscow. South Korea's record for 2017 now stands at one win, three losses and three draws, and the team has scored five goals in those seven contests.This was Shin's third match for South Korea, and first since two consecutive scoreless draws ag

Oct. 8, 2017

Korea falls to Russia 4-2 in men's football friendly

South Korea lost 4-2 to Russia in a men's football friendly match in Moscow on Saturday, adding another lethargic effort to a growing list of subpar results.Fyodor Smolov and Aleksei Miranchuk each scored a goal for the home side, and South Korean defender Kim Ju-young committed two own goals in the second half at the VEB Arena in the Russian capital.(Yonhap)Defender Kwon Kyung-won and foward Ji Dong-won had a goal apiece for the visitors late in the match, though these weren't nearly enough.Rus

Oct. 8, 2017

Korea confirm football friendly with Morocco

South Korea's football governing body confirmed Friday that the men's national team will play Morocco in an international friendly next month.The Korea Football Association said South Korea will take on Morocco at Tissot Arena in Biel, Switzerland, on Oct. 10. It will be South Korea's second friendly after clinching a berth at the 2018 FIFA World Cup earlier this month. The Taeguk Warriors are first set to meet the World Cup hosts Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7. The KFA originally planned a friendly

Sept. 29, 2017

Korea's new U-23 football coach hints at Son Heung-min selection for Asian Games

South Korea's new under-23 national football team boss, Kim Bong-gil, said Thursday he may select Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min for his Asian Games squad next year under the right conditions.Kim, who was appointed Tuesday by the Korea Football Association, will lead South Korea at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship in January next year and then at the Asian Games in August.Like the Olympic Games, the men's football tournament at the Asian Games is open to players

Sept. 28, 2017

Chelsea Ladies' Ji So-yun to lead Korea in US friendlies

Chelsea Ladies attacker Ji So-yun will lead the way for South Korea in two friendly matches against the United States next month.South Korea, ranked No. 15 in the latest FIFA rankings, unveiled a 23-player roster on Wednesday. They will play two friendly matches with the top-ranked Americans: first at Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Oct. 20 (Korean time), and again three days later at Sahlen's Stadium in Cary, North Carolina.The women's national team, led by head coach Yoon Duk-yeo, fe

Sept. 27, 2017

Korea in search of training base for 2018 FIFA World Cup

South Korea’s soccer governing body said Wednesday it is in search of a training base for the national team for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. 　The Korea Football Association said its national team support unit, comprising three members, began a weeklong inspection of training and lodging facilities in Russia last week. They will travel to 11 cities and check 12 stadiums before returning home Saturday, it added.　The KFA reportedly received information on 70 potential training bases from the World Cup

Sept. 27, 2017

Korea's 2018 World Cup prep schedules announced

South Korea will play at least 10 friendly matches before competing at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the national football governing body said Tuesday.In a 2018 World Cup roadmap set by the Korea Football Association technical committee, the men's national football team is scheduled to play at least 10 friendlies before the top FIFA event kicks off on June 14, 2018. South Korea secured their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance earlier this month, after finishing runners-up in Group A in the final

Sept. 26, 2017

Korea names head coach for '18 Asiad men's football team

South Korea on Tuesday named the head coach for the men's football team at next year's Asian Games in Jakarta.The Korea Football Association appointed Kim Bong-gil, former bench boss for Incheon United, as the national under-23 head coach. The decision was reached during the KFA's technical committee meeting.Financial details of Kim's contract will be discussed at a later date, according to the KFA. In this file photo taken April 13, 2014, Kim Bong-gil, then head coach of Incheon United, directs

Sept. 26, 2017

Korea to offer Hiddink official position on natl. football team

South Korea's football governing body on Tuesday said it will give Guus Hiddink an official position on the men's national team, though his exact role will be decided later.The Korea Football Association said its technical committee decided to speak with Hiddink first before deciding on his role for the Taeguk Warriors at the 2018 FIFA World Cup."We do want to receive help from Hiddink," said Kim Ho-gon, who heads the technical committee. "It's going to be a problem if we make a job proposal wit

Sept. 26, 2017

Korea natl. football team needs big-name striker: coach

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday that the men's national team needs a big-name striker to play a more aggressive and exciting brand of football.Shin announced his 23-man squad for friendly matches in Europe next month, but only two players -- Ji Dong-won of FC Augsburg and Hwang Ui-jo of Gamba Osaka -- were listed as forwards. South Korea are scheduled to take on Russia in Moscow on Oct. 7 and are trying to play against Morocco three days later in Switzerland. The Taeguk Warr

Sept. 25, 2017

Ronaldo sends message to family of boy killed in earthquake

MADRID -- Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a message of solidarity to the family of a young fan killed in Mexico’s earthquake.　 Ronaldo twitted a photo of himself holding a Real Madrid jersey with the message “To my No. 1 fan, Santiago.”　  Real Madrid`s Cristiano Ronaldo closes his eyes during Spanish the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017. Betis won 1-0. (AP)Spanish media said the message written on

Sept. 25, 2017

Natl. football coach says he is willing to accept Hiddink's help

South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong said Monday he's willing to accept Guus Hiddink's offer to help the men's national team if the Dutchman is ready to give "selfless" service.Shin, who was hired in July after Uli Stielike's exit and managed South Korea to their ninth consecutive World Cup appearance, said he can do so for the sake of the country's football. "If Hiddink is willing to help South Korea without any personal greed, I want to accept his offer," Shin said during a press conferenc

Sept. 25, 2017

Korea's football friendly vs. Tunisia canceled; Morocco likely next

South Korea's scheduled football friendly against Tunisia has been canceled, the national football governing body said Monday, with Morocco having emerged as the likely replacement.The Korea Football Association said Tunisia pulled out of their commitment last Friday citing "internal reasons." The two had been set to face each other Oct. 10 in Switzerland.Last week, Tunisian media reports said the team's head coach, Nabil Maaloul, didn't want to play South Korea only three days after their World

Sept. 25, 2017