If Hiddink is a Fox, Is Bonfrere a Weed?

Foreign head coaches who lead Korea’s national soccer team, how did they survive in such an alien land thousands of miles away from their homeland?

The current coach of the Korean national team, Johannes Bonfrere (58), who made a name by coaching teams and surviving like a “weed” in Africa and the Middle East, adapted to Korean culture in the “weed style.” When one sees him finishing a bowl of rice with kimchi, one cannot help but chuckle. KFA (Korea Football Association)’s Public Relation Department Deputy Director Lee Won-jae said, “Although he has been to Korea for only a month, he looks as if he lived here for more than 10 years.”

The first foreign coach to lead the national team was the German, Dietmar Kramer (79), who coached and held the post of technical advisor for Olympic team since 1991 for a year. Afterwards, Anatoli Bichovets (58) from Ukraine, Guus Hiddink (58), and Humberto Coelho (54) set foot on Korea.

Out of them, Hiddink was the coach who best adapted to Korea. However, even Hiddink did not know what to do when he first came to Korea in January 2001. In particular, Hiddink was accompanied by Elizabeth, who was not his wife but his girlfriend, and that became a sensitive issue. Rumors spread because of this. Hiddink, who was concerned, declared honestly, “What should I do? I like my girlfriend too much,” and turned the hearts of Korean soccer fans.

Hiddink played various “fox-like acts” to adapt to Korea. For example, although he did not like Korean food, when he had meals with the players, he displayed his showmanship with his clumsy chopsticks, and when he had meetings with KFA members, he drank beer and sang splendidly Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” winning the hearts of people around him.

On the other hand, Bichovets, who took control of the Olympic soccer team from 1994 for two years, avoided the press to an extreme extent. He did not talk much during interviews, ordered journalists to wear sneakers when coming to the soccer field, and his blunt manner with the press resulted in many frictions. When criticism grew strong, Bichovets used the “invitation” card. He invited journalists and members of the KFA to his apartment and treated them with food prepared by his wife, and settled misunderstandings.

Kramer, who was a 66-year-old grandfather in 1991, had a good understanding of Korea’s rule of courtesy and privilege toward the elderly. He called his players as his grandsons and treated them warmly as if he were their grandfather. Seo Jeong-won (Suwon Samsung), who was at the time a member of the Olympic soccer team, recalls, “After we were scolded by the coach, Grandfather Kramer would privately summon us and tell that our skills were at the international level, which would give us confidence.”

In contrast, Coelho, who was disgracefully sacked in the middle for poor performance, did not adapt well to Korean culture. He spent time only with his French wife and two daughters and built a wall around him. He contrasts greatly to Bonfrere, who was asked, “Don’t you miss your family?” and answered, “Right now, I am only thinking about the Asian Cup Tournament.”

Soon-Il Kwon stt77@donga.com