SEOUL: South Korea appointed former Germany international and managerial journeyman Uli Stielike as the national team’s new coach yesterday, in a surprise move that completed its search for a foreign coach.
Stielike, who played 42 times for West Germany but has endured a mixed coaching career, has signed a contract until the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Korea Football Association (KFA) said in a statement.
He replaces Hong Myung-Bo, who resigned in July following South Korea’s disappointing group-stage exit at the World Cup in Brazil, but some fans greeted the appointment with concern on the social media.
The German enjoyed a stellar playing career, making more than 200 appearances for Real Madrid and winning the European Championships with West Germany in 1980.
After retiring, he coached Switzerland between 1989 and 1991 and most recently worked in Qatar, with two different clubs -- Al Arabi and Al Sailiya. He has also coached Ivory Cost and spent time with Swiss side FC Sion.
Stielike, who hadn’t been linked with the job until Friday’s announcement, has been tasked with rebuilding and then guiding the South Koreans to a successful 2015 Asian Cup in Australia in January.
Stielike, 59, will be South Korea’s first boss from overseas since Dutchman Pim Verbeek stepped down in 2007.
Guus Hiddink, also from the Netherlands, has been the most successful, taking South Korea to the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2002.
AFP
