Hiddink chosen as head coach of Korean national soccer team

Guus Hiddink, 54, former head coach of the Netherlands National Soccer Team, will lead the Korean national team in the 2002 World Cup to be co-hosted by Korea and Japan, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said Sunday.

Hiddink¡¯s appointment will be announced Monday by Lee Yong-Soo, chairman of the Technical Committee of the KFA, said KFA secretary general Nam Kwang-Woo.

KFA sources said that Ka Sam-Hyun, chief of the KFA international affairs department, held a third meeting with Hiddink Saturday in Amsterdam and reached an agreement on the terms of the contract and the organization of the new coaching staff. Ka was dispatched to Europe to find a new Korean soccer manager.

Though the terms of the contract will not be announced in accordance with international practices, Hiddink will get US$1 million (about 1.2 billion won) for both his signing bonus and annual pay, the sources said. The Dutch national will also get a special bonus depending on the Korean team¡¯s performance in the 2002 World Cup.

Hiddink will come to Korea with a coach and a physical trainer that he has been working with, the sources said.

He is expected to arrive in Seoul early next month as he has to watch the regular Korea-Japan soccer match to be held in Tokyo Dec. 20, they added.

Meanwhile, Hiddink was learned to have asked for the help of his predecessor, Huh Jung-Moo, who is familiar with Dutch soccer as well as the Korean national team.

Huh said he has not yet received any official request from the KFA, but may assist Hiddink as a technical advisor if necessary.

Bae Keuk-In bae2150@donga.com