Former defender Hong Myung-bo to lead U-20 football squad

SEOUL, Feb. 19 (Yonhap) -- Legendary South Korean defender Hong Myung-bo was
named new coach of the under-20 national football team, the country's football
governing body said Thursday.
The 40-year-old former star player, who served as assistant coach for the 2006
World Cup squad and the 2008 Olympic team, will succeed Cho Dong-hyun, the Korea
Football Association said.
"I'm glad to be with young athletes. I think it's a good challenge, even though I
am taking on a heavy responsibility," said the former captain of the South Korean
national team. "I want to show organized football with creative and smart moves."
Hong will make his coaching debut in the U-20 World Cup in Egypt in September and
stay on until the 2012 London Olympics, in which only players under 23 can
participate.
Named as one of FIFA's 100 great players in 2004, Hong was the backbone of South
Korea's national squad for over a decade from 1990 until he retired in 2004. He
won the Bronze Ball Award in the 2002 World Cup for his role in leading the
Korean team to the semifinals.
Hong played with South Korea's Pohang Steelers, Japan's Kashiwa Reysol and in the
U.S. with the Los Angeles Galaxy. His record includes 135 national matches and
nine goals scored.
brk@yna.co.kr
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