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John Duerden on the candidates to succeed Humberto Coelho as Korea coach

May 10 2004

Last month, Humberto Coelho and the Korean Football Association mutually agreed to end the Portuguese coach's contract three months early.

As a result, with only two months to go before the Asian Cup begins and a World Cup qualifying campaign that is already underway, the KFA is once again looking for a new coach.

In the first week of May, the KFA published a list of ten coaches who will be contacted before the list is narrowed down to two primary and two secondary candidates. A decision has been promised before the end of May.

The list clearly shows the kind of manager that Korea's football bosses are looking for. They all have international coaching experience, indeed half of them coached during the last World Cup. The list of candidates is as follows:

Bruno Metsu

Bruno Metsu famously guided Senegal to the last eight of the 2002 World Cup. The shaggy haired Frenchman is currently coaching the United Arab Emirates club, Al Ain. However, according to reports in the Korean media, Metsu has expressed his interest in the job stating that it would be no problem to leave his present employers. At the moment, the former Senegal coach seems to be the front–runner for the vacant position.

Luis Felipe Scolari

The World Cup winning coach of 2002 is seemingly high on the KFA's wish list. He has the name and the track record. The big problem, aside from the fact that he may not want the job, is that he is currently employed as Portugal's coach. With Portugal hosting Euro 2004, it is highly unlikely to say the least that Scolari could take over the reins by the end of May. However, one of Korea's ‘big three' newspapers, Donga Ilbo believes that not only is he the ideal candidate but also that the KFA will bide its time. Thus the possibility is raised that Scolari could be announced as the new coach to take over after the European Championships.

Senol Gunes

The former international goalkeeper is available as he was recently sacked by Turkey after failing to lead his team to Euro 2004. This was despite taking the national team to an unprecedented third place in the last World Cup although Turkish fans never took FIFA's 2002 Manager of the Year to their hearts. Gunes has indicated that he would like the Korean job and has a decent chance of doing so but worries abound over a lack of Turkish translators in Korea.

Mick McCarthy

The big Yorkshireman may be as surprised to receive a call from the KFA's representatives. The former Barnsley, Manchester City, Celtic, Lyon and Millwall defender has the pre-requisite international experience leading Ireland into the last 16 in 2002. There are doubts however, McCarthy's overall record with Ireland was mixed and a high-profile spat with captain Roy Keane will not work in his favour. Another problem could be the lack of Yorkshire translators in Korea. McCarthy is currently trying to reach the English Premier League with Sunderland, if he is successful, the Korean job will be academic, if not, who knows?

Roger Lemerre

The Frenchman was sacked by the French Football Federation as national coach as his team failed to win a game or even score a goal in the 2002 World Cup, despite being defending champions. Lemerre took over from Aime Jacquet after the 1998 World Cup victory and led France to become the Champions of Europe in 2000. Less than 2 years after his sacking, Lemerre restored his reputation by coaching Tunisia to the African Championship. It is unlikely that the only coach to win two different continental titles will be available as he recently signed a new contract, pledging to take ‘The Carthage Eagles' to Germany in 2006.

Daniel Passarella

An Argentinean legend. The defender lifted the World Cup in Buenos Aires in 1978. The former coach of Uruguay and Parma played in three World Cups before returning to the finals in 1998 as coach of his homeland. Passarella resigned after that tournament with his team only reaching the last eight. Korean players may or may not be pleased to know that he is renowned for being tough. He refused to pick players who had long hair or sported too much jewellery. Passarella has all the experience necessary but does he have the desire to coach in East Asia?

Wanderley Luxemburgo

The Brazilian who replaced Mario Zagallo won the Copa America in 1999 but it all went downhill from there. For a while under his tutelage Brazil looked like they wouldn't qualify for the Korea/Japan World Cup. After a shocking defeat at the hands off nine-man Cameroon in the Sydney Olympics, Wanderley was sacked. He was also accused of making money from transfers when he was a club coach. Having the best name out of all the candidates will probably not be enough for Luxemburgo to land the job.

Vicente Del Bosque

The unluckiest coach in football history is another big name on the KFA's list. The moustachioed ex-boss of Real Madrid was at the helm at the Bernebau for four seasons from 1999-2003. During that time Madrid won two European cups and two domestic championships. He was then shown the door amid accusations from President Florentino Perez that he was ‘too traditional' and ‘exhausted.' A new challenge in Korea, where tradition is highly prized, could be an interesting challenge.

Fatih Terim

The Turk managed his national team from 1993 until the end of the 1996 European Championships in England, leaving to take the helm at Galatasaray. The Istanbul side won the Turkish Championship four times in his four seasons at the club, culminating in a UEFA Cup victory. Fatih then left to coach Fiorentina, staying for a year before moving to AC Milan where he was surprisingly sacked after eight months of decent results. On his return home to Istanbul and Galatasaray, Terim found that he couldn't match the heights of his previous reign. The currently unemployed coach has recently been linked with Everton. It is unlikely however, that he is a big enough name to satisfy the Korean public and football authorities.

Holger Osieck

The German was the coach of Canada for exactly five years; from September 1998 to September 2003. Osieck managed to propel Canada to hitherto uncharted FIFA ranking heights of 61st, winning the 2000 Gold Cup along the way. A poor Canadian showing in the same competition in 2003 and reports of player unrest led to Osieck stepping down. It would be a major surprise if Beckanbauer's assistant at the 1990 World World is offered the Korean job.

Omissions

Surprisingly, the ex-coach of Japan, Phillipe Troussier is not included among the ten. The Frenchmen, currently coaching Qatar, reportedly wants the Korean job. The man known in Africa as ‘the white witch-doctor' stated that he knows Korean football better than anyone else. He certainly knows it better than Glenn Hoddle and Bryan Robson, two other names mentioned but not included in the list.

The KFA also chose to overlook Pim Veerbeek. The tall Dutchman was Hiddink's assistant from 2000-2002. The meticulous Dutchman probably does know Korean football and its footballers better than any of the candidates on the list above.

Aime Jacquet has been offered and has refused the Korean job twice before. The Frenchman, who led his country to victory in 1998, has it has been suggested by the Korean media that he was the first coach to be contacted after the position became vacant. If so, the reason that Jacquet is not on the list is because he has already refused the job.

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