South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo resigned Sunday after the team’s quick elimination from the World Cup drew a harsh condemnation from the country’s president, who called the coach “incapable” and ordered a complete review of the national team program. South Korea won its opening match against Czech Republic, then lost its next two Group A matches to South Africa and Mexico.South Korea hoped it would qualify for the next round as one of the third-place teams to advance in this year’s expanded tournament. That ended when Congo defeated Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday.The quick exit for a team that expected to advance left the national team program in turmoil and drew a sharp rebuke from President Lee Jae Myung. He leveled pointed criticism at the coach..“As a former honorary professional football club chairman and, at heart, a member of the Red Devils, I feel not just surprise but deep bewilderment at this unexpected result,” the president said.
The president criticized the national team structure and oversight, and the coach’s appointment in the first place.“Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions determine everything. If loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire,” the president said.
