KFA President Meets New National Team Manager

“Dear Manager Huh, do not resent me. We did not force your resignation in 2000,” Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-joon said.

“I was rather young back then,” Manager Huh Jung-moo replied.

Newly appointed Korean National Football Team Manager Huh Jung-moo met Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-joon Monday at the KFA building in Shinmunro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. It was their first meeting since the recent appointment of new manager Huh.

As soon as KFA President Chung met with Manager Huh, he began the meeting by saying, “Didn’t you resign right after the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the Asian Cup, though the team record was not that bad? The association never intended that to be so. Do not misunderstand us.” Manager Huh replied, “Ah, don’t mention it. I was very inexperienced back then.” Manager Huh failed to move to higher rounds in the Sydney Olympics albeit winning two games but losing one, and Korea placed third in the 2000 Asian Cup.

President Chung emphasized, “There is probably not much time to adapt and adjust, due to the abrupt decision. We cannot afford carelessness in our game. Korea is placed pretty high up among Asian soccer countries, but our team’s individual skill is not that great, which is why we must put a lot of stress on teamwork.” Manager Huh said, “We will call up the team on February 3, right before the February 6 game against Turkmenistan. It is the first qualifying home game for the 2010 South African World Cup. I am concerned the players will have lost touch with their game, since it is during the winter training season. Nevertheless, I will do my best to maximize our capabilities despite such circumstances.”

President Chung replied, “We probably could have made the quarterfinal or the semifinals in the 2004 Athens Olympics had we called up Park Ji-sung (Manchester United), who was playing for Eindhoven back then. I am sorry we did not try to persuade Eindhoven Manager Guus Hiddink.” This hinted at his intention to fully support the future summoning of players playing in foreign leagues.

yjongk@donga.com