Former national team coach gets job in China

Former Korea national football team coach Hong Myung-bo will return to coaching after reaching a two-year deal with a Chinese Super League club for a reported $1.5 million salary.

The Hong Myung-bo Scholarship Foundation, which is run by Hong, said on Thursday that the 46-year-old is going to Hangzhou Greentown FC, though no details were announced.

This is the first time Hong will be coaching a professional club.

“Since I will be experiencing Chinese football for the first time, I will put my best effort forward to make this team valuable,” Hong said. “Instead of focusing on instant results, I will try to raise the talent of Hangzhou players.”

Hong, who ended his playing career in 2004 with LA Galaxy, was known for his achievements in youth football. The former defender led Korea to the quarterfinals in the 2009 FIFA Under-20 World Cup, while helping the Olympic team (U-23 team) win the bronze medal in the 2012 London Summer Games, which was the country’s first-ever medal in football.

However, his reputation was dented in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where Korea was eliminated from the group stage.

Hong, a former national team captain and FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball winner, has been off the field since then and his job was later taken by Uli Stielike.

BY JOO KYUNG-DON [joo.kyungdon@joongang.co.kr]