Son Heung-min and co to play under ‘headbutt’ coach while South Korea search for Jurgen Klinsmann’s replacement
- Kim Do-hoon takes over for two games as South Korea chase spot in next round of World Cup qualifying, having left his last role after a 2022 incident
- Korean FA says negotiations for permanent head coach may not be complete in time for June matches
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A South Korean football manager suspended from his former job after being accused of headbutting a rival coach has been handed the reins to his country’s national team.
Kim Do-hoon, whose previous role with Lion City Sailors ended in 2022 after an incident against Tampines Rovers, will take over for two games next month as South Korea look to seal their place in the next round of qualifying for football’s 2026 World Cup.
The 53-year-old will be the side’s second caretaker boss since Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked in February following the team’s disappointing performance at the Asian Cup, where they lost to Jordan in the semi-finals.
Under-23 coach Hwang Sun-hong took over for a 1-1 home draw with Thailand and the 3-0 win in the return fixture in Bangkok in March, leaving South Korea needing just a point from their two remaining games to guarantee progress in qualifying.
On Monday, the Korea Football Association said the former international striker, who scored 30 goals in 72 matches for the national team, would oversee matches away at Singapore on June 6 and home to China five days later.
“It is possible negotiations for the appointment of the national head coach will not be finalised by the matches in June,” the KFA said in a statement.
“To prepare for such a case, we have decided to appoint Kim Do-hoon as interim coach for the two matches.”
Kim coached Ulsan in the domestic K League from 2017 to 2020, taking them to the Asian Champions League crown.
In 2021, Kim was appointed as manager of Singaporean side Lion City Sailors, going on to win the Singapore Premier League title and record the best finish to date by a Singaporean side in the Champions League.
The KFA had hoped to name a new full-time coach by early May, according to Yonhap News Agency.
But they are yet to get their man, with former Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch – said to have been a front runner – instead taking the Canada job.
Canada, the United States and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup.
