Hiddink Will Remain In Korea?

The famous Korean national football team coach Guus Hiddink who changed the history of Korean soccer will remain in charge after the World Cup Games ends? Many concerned parties and football fans want him to leave in Korea and work for the development of Korean soccer. Jung Mong-joon, a Vice Chairman of Korean Football Association (KFA) and FIFA asked him to remain in charge until the 2002 Busan Asian Game held in this October. But he did not give an immediate answer just saying "Let`s think again after the World Cup Games end". What decisions would he make?

According to Netherlands football reporters, there is little possibility that he will remain in Korea. One of reporters from De Telegraph said, "He will take a position of Netherland`s PSV Eindhoven team coach. The team asked him to officially take the position two weeks ago, and he delayed giving an answer." The team had been led by Hiddink from 1985 to 1990, winning three times in the League Championship, three times in the Netherlands Cup and one time in the European Cup. The team has wanted him to come back for a long time. The reporter said, "Hiddink likes being with players every day. That is why he prefers a club team to a national team. National team players would come back to each club, but club team players do not have do to so. I think he will accept Eindhoven`s proposal. He loves watching his players grow."

Another reporter from NPA (Netherlands Paper Association) said, "There was a survey on which coach would be most appropriate for football players last year. And Hiddink was on the top. But he refused to come back due to his job in Korea." So, the most likely scenario is that he will come back to Eindhoven team after the World Cup Games, and then take the Netherlands national football team in 2004 European Cup or 2006 World Cup Games. Some people think that he will transfer to a nation or team which pays him well. But Netherlands reporters denied saying, "He achieved everything except for winning in the World Cup Games. He will not care about money, rather he will enjoy his life training players."

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com