Robert Moreno Takes Over as South Korea's Interim Coach After World Cup Setback

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has chosen former Spain head coach Robert Moreno to lead the national team on an interim basis following a disappointing World Cup performance. After Hong Myung-bo resigned due to South Korea’s early group-stage exit at the tournament in North America this June, Moreno stepped in to try and steady the ship.

Moreno, 48, is the first Spaniard ever to manage South Korea’s national squad. His contract may be extended to cover the upcoming Asian Cup, depending on how well the team performs under his guidance.

Moreno Steps In Amidst Turmoil

The KFA launched an open search to find Hong’s replacement after the World Cup failure. Moreno’s appointment comes during a difficult period for Korean football, which has been rocked by internal issues including police investigations into the KFA’s hiring practices and public apologies over allegations related to inappropriate entertainment of foreign referees.

Before this role, Moreno was known for his time assisting Luis Enrique with Spain’s national team in 2019, stepping up when Enrique temporarily left due to his daughter’s illness. The relationship between the two coaches later soured amid accusations of disloyalty when Enrique returned ahead of Euro 2020.

Addressing Controversies

Moreno faced controversy in Russia where media reports suggested he used artificial intelligence tools during his stint managing Sochi before his departure in September 2025. He categorically denied these claims in a public letter to Marca, stating he never relied on ChatGPT or any AI for team decisions. He emphasized that all choices about players and line-ups were made collaboratively with his coaching staff, highlighting his background in data and video analysis as key to his coaching methods.

Upcoming Matches and the Asian Cup

Under Moreno’s leadership, South Korea will host friendlies against Ecuador and Uruguay in September, then face Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October. There might be additional games scheduled for November. The KFA confirmed Moreno could remain in charge for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia from January 7 to February 5, pending a review of the team’s results.

These fixtures offer a crucial chance to rebuild confidence among fans and restore faith in the national team after a turbulent year.

• Interim Head Coach: Robert Moreno
• Predecessor: Hong Myung-bo (resigned post-World Cup)
• Age: 48
• First Spaniard to manage South Korea
• Upcoming Friendlies: Ecuador, Uruguay (September); Venezuela, Uzbekistan (October)
• Asian Cup Dates: January 7 – February 5, Saudi Arabia
• Controversies: KFA scandals, AI use accusations (denied)