Robert Moreno hired as interim head coach as South Korea aims for calm after a turbulent summer

South Korean football association has appointed former Spain boss Robert Moreno as interim coach for the nation's upcoming home friendlies. This decision comes after a disappointing World Cup and a series of scandals surrounding the Korean Football Association (KFA). Moreno, a 48-year-old Spaniard, will oversee the team during friendlies against Ecuador, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Uzbekistan in September and October.

If the KFA organizes additional friendlies during the November international break, Moreno would also take charge.

The Korean Football Association (KFA) stated that Moreno was selected following an open recruitment process. As a Spaniard, he will become the first foreign coach to lead South Korea's football team. Moreno previously managed the Spanish national team on a temporary basis from 2019 to 2020, later being replaced by his former coach, Luis Enrique, following the death of Enrique's daughter.

Moreno's tenure in Spain was marked by controversy when he was accused of using AI to prepare for games during his time in Russia. He vehemently denied these allegations, stating that he only employed technology in his professional life to analyze data and videos, not for making decisions or choosing players. Moreno took over the Spanish team in 2019 and was replaced by Luis Enrique in 2020 after Enrique's daughter was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Enrique returned to lead Spain in November 2020 after Moreno's departure.