Hong Myung-bo steps down as Korea coach after World Cup early exit
ZAPOPAN, Mexico — Hong Myung-bo resigned as head coach of the Korean men's national football team Sunday, a day after the country's elimination from the ongoing FIFA World Cup.
Hong, 57, made the announcement at a press conference at the team's training site in Zapopan, western Mexico.
He was hired in July 2024 for his second tour of duty and his contract was to run through the 2027 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup, set to run from January to February next year.
At the World Cup, Korea finished third in Group A with three points from a win and two losses.
They harbored hopes of sneaking into the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-place teams, but fell out of the picture Saturday, the final day of the group stage.
Hong also failed to get Korea past the group stage at his first World Cup as head coach in 2014.
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