Lee Young-pyo criticizes coaching revolving door

Veteran football star Lee Young-pyo on Tuesday criticized football officials for lacking patience with national team coaches, offering his two cents on the controversial coaching change earlier this month.

“There may be some misunderstanding and discord when you’re working for Korean football, but it’s all part of the process,” Lee told reporters. “Changing coaches too frequently is something we should all think hard about.”

Lee was addressing the local press for the first time since he signed with Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer earlier this month. But the firing of Cho Kwang-rae as the national team coach almost three weeks ago and the subsequent hiring of Choi Kang-hee as his replacement last week dominated the discussion.

Cho was shown the door after South Korea fell 2-1 to underdog Lebanon during regional World Cup qualification. The defeat puts South Korea’s hopes of advancing in jeopardy.

But Lee, 34, said the national team “can’t win all the time, from start to finish.”

“The national team is at its strongest when it can overcome adversity and bounce back,” the veteran said.

Lee played in three World Cups under seven different head coaches before retiring from international play in January. 

(Yonhap News)