New natl. football coach hoping for early call-up for crucial World Cup qualifiers

South Korea's new national football head coach is hoping to call up his players early for crucial World Cup qualifiers as he seeks help from the domestic pro football league and its clubs.Shin Tae-yong, who took the helm of the men's senior squad last week, said Sunday that he'd be grateful if the Korea Football Association and the K League, which governs the professional competitions, allow him to summon national team players earlier than scheduled.In the final Asian qualifying round for the 20

July 10, 2017

Tottenham's Son Heung-min named honorary ambassador for hometown province

CHUNCHEON -- Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean forward Son Heung-min on Friday was named honorary ambassador for his hometown province that will host the Winter Olympics next year.Gangwon Provincial Government said Son will help its efforts to raise awareness of the region and promote the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games after appointing the footballer as its honorary ambassador. Son, who turns 25 on Saturday, is a native of Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, some 80 kilometers east of Seoul.In this photo

July 7, 2017

Korean football club Gangwon FC sign French striker

South Korean football club Gangwon FC said Friday they've acquired French forward Jonathan Nanizayamo.The K League Classic outfit announced they signed a contract with Nanizayamo, who will be known as Nani here. The terms of his deal weren't disclosed.  This photo provided by Gangwon FC on July 7, 2017, shows French forward Nani posing for a photo. (Yonhap)Gangwon, currently third in the 12-team league, said that the towering striker will boost their offense using his 196-centimeter height and p

July 7, 2017

New Korea football coach hints at change in squad selection

If there's one thing that makes new South Korea football coach Shin Tae-yong different from his predecessor Uli Stielike, it is his standards on squad selection.Shin was named new head coach for the men's national football team Tuesday by the Korea Football Association, with a task of guiding South Korea to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and achieving nine consecutive appearances at football's showpiece event.In his first meeting with the press Thursday at the KFA House in Seoul, Shin vowed to select p

July 6, 2017

New nat'l football team coach vows to lead Korea to 2018 World Cup

South Korea's new national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong said Thursday he is ready to devote himself to help South Korea achieve its ninth consecutive World Cup appearance.Shin was appointed as the new leader of the men's national football team on Tuesday after the Korea Football Association (KFA) technical committee meeting. The 46-year-old previously managed South Korea's football squad at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games and most recently at the FIFA U-20 World Cup at home.Shi

July 6, 2017

Gangwon FC sign Brazilian defender Gerson

South Korean outfit Gangwon FC said Thursday they've acquired Brazilian defender Gerson Guimaraes Junior.The K League Classic club said it's signed a contract with Gerson, who holds a Spanish passport, on Monday but didn't disclose details of the deal.In this photo provided by Gangwon FC on July 6, 2017, Gangwon's new defender Gerson poses for the camera with the club emblem. (Yonhap)Gerson started his pro career with Botabogo in 2010 and then joined the youth side of Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven

July 6, 2017

Chief assistant coach of Korea nat'l football team resigns

Jung Hae-sung, the chief assistant coach of the South Korean national football team, decided to step down from his post on Wednesday, a day after the national football governing body named a new boss for the senior squad.The Korea Football Association on Tuesday appointed former under-20 national team head coach Shin Tae-yong as the new skipper for the men's senior team. Shin, 46, fills the vacancy left by Uli Stielike, who was sacked last month after South Korea's 3-2 loss to Qatar in a World C

July 5, 2017

Korean football reaches out to promising coach to join 2018 World Cup

After axing Uli Stielike as the men's national team boss, South Korean football has now placed its bet on Shin Tae-yong, who will have to serve a firefighting role again for his country.The Korea Football Association on Tuesday announced that Shin will lead the senior squad through the 2018 FIFA World Cup, should South Korea qualify for the tournament. The 46-year-old previously managed South Korea's football squad at the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games and most recently at the FIFA U-20 Wor

July 5, 2017

Communication important for new Korean football coach

PAJU -- The capability to communicate actively and smoothly with players appeared to be the most important criterion in South Korea's search for new national team boss as the country decided to go with Shin Tae-yong for the World Cup qualification.The Korea Football Association technical committee, led by Kim Ho-gon, on Tuesday announced that Shin will be the skipper for the South Korean men's senior squad. The 46-year-old will lead the Taeguk Warriors through the 2018 FIFA World Cup, should Sou

July 4, 2017

Football club Gwangju sign league's 1st Northern Irishman

South Korean football club Gwangju FC said Tuesday they've signed the league's first Northern Irish player.The K League Classic outfit acquired forward Niall McGinn. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. In this photo released by Gwangju FC on July 4, 2017, Northern Irish footballer Niall McGinn poses for a photo in front of the club emblem. (Yonhap)The 29-year-old started his career with the native side Dungannon Swifts in 2005 and went on to play for Derry City, Celtic, Brentford and Aberdeen.

July 4, 2017

Ex-U-20 football coach to lead Korea's senior squad for World Cup

PAJU -- Former South Korean under-20 football team boss Shin Tae-yong has been named as the new head coach of the senior national football team, officials here said Tuesday.The Korea Football Association's technical committee, led by Kim Ho-gon, said Shin will lead the team through the 2018 FIFA World Cup, should South Korea qualify for the tournament.Shin fills the vacancy at the football coaching position left by Uli Stielike, who was sacked last month after South Korea's 3-2 loss to Qatar in

July 4, 2017

New technical committee formed to select Korea's national football team coach

The national football governing body appointed new members to its technical committee on Monday in order to search for a head coach for the men's national football team.The Korea Football Association said the eight-man technical committee was formed to find bench bosses for the senior national team and the under-23 squad. The new committee, led by Kim Ho-gon, will have its first meeting on Tuesday at the National Football Center in Paju, north of Seoul. In this file photo taken on June 26, 2017,

July 3, 2017

Korea's key World Cup qualifier to be played in Seoul

A key World Cup qualifying match for South Korea next month will take place in Seoul, the national football governing body said Friday.The Korea Football Association said the match against Iran in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be played at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Aug. 31.South Korea are currently in second place in Group A with 13 points, holding on to the last automatic qualification berth while sitting just one point above Uzbekistan with two matches to p

June 30, 2017

Korean pro football All-Stars selected for match in Vietnam

The South Korean professional fooball All-Star team for mid-season festivities in Vietnam was unveiled on Monday.The K League, operator of the national pro competitions, announced a team of 18 players. The K League All-Stars will face the Vietnamese national team at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on July 29. The kickoff is 10 p.m. Korean time.Yang Dong-hyeon of the Pohang Steelers (Yonhap)Pohang Steelers' Yang Dong-hyeon, currently tied for the lead in the top division K League Classic with 1

June 26, 2017

Korea names new technical director in football

The national football governing body named a new technical director Monday.The Korea Football Association said its Vice President Kim Ho-gon has been named the head of its technical committee.Kim, 66, replaces Lee Yong-soo, who stepped down June 15, the same day that the men's national team head coach Uli Stielike was sacked.(Yonhap)Kim's first job as the technical chief will be to name Stielike's successor, with South Korea clinging to the last automatic berth in the final Asian qualifying roun

June 26, 2017

At career crossroads, Barca prospect wants to talk to Spanish side first

Amid transfer rumors, FC Barcelona's South Korean prospect Lee Seung-woo said Monday he'll first talk to his current club before deciding on his future.The 19-year-old left home for Spain earlier in the day while rumors continue to swirl around his future destination.Lee made a debut with Barca's B team two seasons ago, but has mostly been playing with Juvenil A (under-19) team since then.Lee Seung-woo (Yonhap)Lee has a contract with the Catalan club until 2019 and reportedly has a buyout clause

June 26, 2017

Korean football club to appeal sanctions over on-field violence

Korean football club Jeju United said they plan to appeal sanctions over their players' on-field violence Monday.The Asian Football Confederation earlier handed down penalties to three Jeju players for their role in a melee after an AFC Champions League match against Urawa Red Diamonds at Saitama Stadium in Saitama, Japan, on May 31.The AFC suspended Cho Yong-hyung for six months with a fine of US$20,000, Baek Dong-gyu for three months with a fine of $15,000 and Kweon Han-jin for two matches wit

June 26, 2017