Interim boss for men's nat'l football team tasked with restoring fans' faith

Seoul, September 1 (Yonhap) -- Spanish tactician Robert Moreno has been appointed as the temporary head coach of South Korea's men's national football team by the Korea Football Association (KFA). The KFA hopes Moreno will not only win matches but also change the mood of the team, following a disappointing World Cup exit. Moreno, 48, previously led the Spain national team.

His appointment comes two months after Hong Myung-bo stepped down as head coach, following a backlash over his hiring. Critics accused the KFA of an unfair and opaque process to select Hong, who was often booed by fans before and after matches. The KFA conducted an open recruitment process for Moreno, which began in the summer and concluded after talks with the coach and his staff.

The KFA delayed in announcing Moreno's appointment to avoid rushing into a full-time replacement for Hong. South Korea will face Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan in the coming weeks as part of the National Team's World Cup window. While there is no guarantee of victory, Moreno's arrival is intended to boost the team's performance and restore fans' faith in the squad.

After these matches, South Korea will participate in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in January in Saudi Arabia. The KFA aims to have a permanent head coach in place by the end of the year, with Moreno signed until November 27. However, the KFA may extend Moreno's contract depending on the team's performance in the initial six matches.