The Korea Herald

Football coach gives up vacation to prep for World Cup qualifier

Jul 15, 2016

South Korean men's football team head coach Uli Stielike will not take a vacation this summer as he decided to prepare for the FIFA World Cup qualification starting in September, an official at the national football governing body said Wednesday. A Korea Football Association official said Stielike has decided to give up his summer vacation and will instead spend time checking on players in the country's pro football leagues. Both the top-tier K League Classic and second division K League Challen
Korean defender joins Chinese club coached by compatriot

Jul 15, 2016

South Korean defender Hong Jeong-ho has left the German Bundesliga to join a Chinese football club managed by his compatriot.Jiangsu Suning, currently second in the Chinese Super League, said on Thursday night via Weibo -- China's largest social networking service -- that they signed Hong from FC Augsburg. The details of his contract weren't announced.Hong will be coached by fellow South Korean Choi Yong-soo, who left South Korean outfit FC Seoul last month to join Jiangsu. Jiangsu said they are
FC Seoul to acquire veteran defender Kwak Tae-hwi

Jul 7, 2016

Korean football club FC Seoul said Thursday they are set to sign veteran center back Kwak Tae-hwi to boost their defense.Seoul -- currently second in the top-flight K League Classic with nine wins, three draws and six losses -- said Kwak will sign a contract that runs through the end of the 2018 season after passing his medical on Friday.Kwak will be the club's first signing under head coach Hwang Sung-hong, who took the helm last month after Choi Yong-soo left for China's Jiangsu Suning."Becaus
FC Seoul looking for 1st win after coaching change

Jul 4, 2016

Korean football club FC Seoul will try to get their first win this week following a recent coaching change, though they will have to do so without their top scorer.Seoul are on a three-match losing streak in the first-tier K League Classic since head coach Choi Yong-soo left for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning late last month. After suffering a 2-1 defeat to the Pohang Steelers on June 25, Seoul's new boss Hwang Sun-hong took the helm. The five-time K League champions then fell 3-1 to Seongnam FC la
Football league delays meting out punishment on club over bribery scandal

Jun 30, 2016

The national pro football league said Thursday it will delay meting out punishment on Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors over a bribery scandal.The K League had been scheduled to discuss penalties for Jeonbuk on Friday, but it will do so after mid-August instead, according to Cho Nam-don, who heads the league's disciplinary committee.In May, local prosecutors said a Jeonbuk scout, identified only by his surname Cha, had been indicted on charges of bribing two referees in 2013. Cho said the league postponed
Jeonnam Dragons acquire Brazilian forward

Jun 30, 2016

Korean football club the Jeonnam Dragons said Thursday they have signed Brazilian forward Jair Eduardo Britto da Silva. Jeonnam -- currently 10th in the top-flight K League Classic with three wins, six draws and eight losses -- said the 28-year-old attacker will fill the void left by Macedonian striker Stevica Ristic, who was recently released from his contract by mutual agreement. (Yonhap)Jeonnam, the three-time champions of the Korean Football Association Cup, have yet to disclose the detail
Jeonnam Dragons sign Aussie-born defender

Jun 28, 2016

Korean football club Jeonnam Dragons said Tuesday they are set to sign defender Tomislav Mrcela from Croatian club NK Lokomotiva Zagreb.Jeonnam, currently 10th in the top-flight K League Classic, said that the 25-year-old center back, who holds dual citizenship in Australia and Croatia, will join the club after a medical test. (Jeonnam Dragons)Jeonnam, three-time champions of the Korean Football Association Cup, have yet to disclose the details of his contract.Mrcela made his pro debut in 2011 w
Messi's retirement from Argentina could hurt his legacy

Jun 27, 2016

Lionel Messi's surprising decision to stop playing for Argentina could damage his legacy with the national team and fans back home.If Messi sticks to his announcement, made in the heat of the moment shortly after Argentina's penalty shootout loss to Chile in Sunday's Copa America final, Argentina will be left dwelling on the fact that it was not able to win any significant title despite having one of the best players of all time.Many fans back home didn't like the fact that he thrived in his ado
Versatility key to Olympic football squad: coach

Jun 27, 2016

When assembling the Korean team for the men's Olympic football tournament in Rio de Janeiro, versatility was the most important criterion for head coach Shin Tae-yong.On Monday, Korea unveiled their 18-man football squad for the Aug. 5-21 Rio Games, which included three players over the Olympic football age limit of 23. Each Olympic contestant can field up to three such players as wild cards. (Yonhap)Shin said taking 18 players to the tournament is different from taking 23 players to other major
New FC Seoul boss vows to keep football club's legacy alive

Jun 27, 2016

Hwang Sun-hong, new head coach for Korean football club FC Seoul, said Monday he will try his best to produce good results despite the pressure to keep the club's legacy alive.Hwang officially became the 11th head coach of FC Seoul as he succeeds former boss Choi Yong-soo, who left for Chinese club Jiangsu Suning last week. Hwang, who will guide Seoul through the end of the 2018 season, will make his return to the top-flight K League Classic for the first time in seven months. He resigned from a
Korea hoping for boost from 3 'wild-card' players in Olympic football

Jun 27, 2016

Korean Olympic football team is hoping for big contributions from its three "wild-card" players when they enter the Rio de Janeiro Summer Games, as head coach Shin Tae-yong wants them to boost both the offense and the defense of the young squad.On Monday, Korea unveiled their 18-man football squad for the Rio Games, which included three players over the Olympic football age limit of 23. Teams can field up to three such players as wild cards. (Yonhap)Coach Shin previously said he would use all th
Tottenham's Son Heung-min named to Korean Olympic squad

Jun 27, 2016

Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min has been tasked with leading South Korea's quest for a second straight Olympic football medal.On Monday, Son was named to South Korea's 18-man squad for the Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.(Yonhap)Korea will be competing in their eighth straight Olympics but have won just one medal so far -- bronze at the 2012 London Olympics. The Olympic football tournament, featuring 16 nations, is open to players under the age of 23, but each country is permitted up to
Nat'l football team coach named new boss of second-tier club

Jun 24, 2016

A Korean men's national football team coach on Friday was named the new boss for a second-tier pro club in Seoul.Seoul E-Land FC said Park Kun-ha, an assistant to Uli Steilike, will be their new skipper after signing a two-and-a-half year contract. The K League Challenge club, founded in 2014, struck the deal nine days after sacking Scottish head coach Martin Rennie."We decided to choose Park Kun-ha as the second head coach in club history," Seoul E-Land said. "He emphasizes communication with
Outgoing FC Seoul coach says he wants new challenge in China

Jun 22, 2016

Outgoing FC Seoul boss Choi Yong-soo said Wednesday he decided to join the Chinese club Jiangsu Suning because he wanted a new challenge by facing top-class football coaches.FC Seoul announced Tuesday that Choi will leave the five-time K League Classic champions for Jiangsu in the Chinese Super League. (Yonhap)Before his last match as Seoul head coach Wednesday, Choi told reporters that he accepted Jiangsu's offer because he didn't want to miss another opportunity.Last July, Choi turned down Jia
After quiet night, Lille prepares fans clashing at Euro 2016

Jun 15, 2016

LILLE, France (AP) -- After an unexpectedly quiet night in Lille, Russian and Slovakian fans are gathering at the Stade Pierre Mauroy for Wednesday afternoon's European Championship match while a legion of English and Welsh supporters are still in town.In the morning hours, dozens of Russian and Slovakian fans were peacefully walking the streets in the Villeneuve d'Ascq area, a 10-minute walk from the stadium. (Yonhap)Security forces were in place, with 15 police vehicles lined up along the dist