Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Seoul: Seongnam’s 2010 AFC Champions League-winning coach Shin Tae-yong has taken over as head coach of Korea Republic’s U-23s from Lee Kwang-jong, who had to step down from the position through illness.
Shin had previously been an assistant coach with the senior Korea Republic national team and helped Uli Stielike guide the Taeguk Warriors to a runners-up finish at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
Yonhap News Agency reported that the KFA (Korea Football Association) had convened a technical committee meeting on Thursday to confirm Shin’s appointment to replace Lee (pictured), with the 50-year-old having been diagnosed with acute leukemia.
"Our contract with Lee has expired but the KFA will continue to support him," a KFA official told Yonhap.
"Since he came down with the illness while serving as the coach for the Olympic team, the KFA also has a responsibility (to take care of Lee). Considering his contribution to South Korean football, we're preparing measures to provide support for him."
Lee, who led Korea Republic to glory at the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship before guiding the under 23s to the gold medal in an undefeated 2014 Asian Games campaign, had been in Thailand preparing his side for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers but returned to Korea at the end of January due to illness, which was subsequently diagnosed as leukemia.
The South Koreans are in Thailand taking part in the 2015 King’s Cup, where they have beaten Uzbekistan’s U-23s (1-0) and Honduras U-20s (2-0) and will face the Thais in the final match on Saturday.
The four-team tournament is being used to prepare for the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers in Indonesia, where Korea Republic will face the Group H hosts, Timor-Leste and Brunei with the first place side advancing to next year’s tournament in Qatar, which will serve as Asia’s qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Photo: AFP