South Korea names Robert Moreno interim manager through November

Appointment and contract

The Korea Football Association (KFA) named former Spain head coach Robert Moreno as the temporary manager of the South Korean men's national football team on Tuesday. The KFA approved his nomination during a board meeting at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, about 90 kilometers south of Seoul, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Moreno, 48, will be in charge of South Korea's next six international matches, with his contract running until November 27. The KFA said he would be given the chance to serve in a full-time role for the Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia starting in January, depending on the team's performance this fall, Yonhap reported.

The appointment follows the resignation of Hong Myung-bo in late June, who stepped down after South Korea's group-stage exit at the World Cup in North America. The coaching position has been vacant since. Instead of rushing to hire a full-time replacement ahead of the September-October match period, the KFA opted to hire a caretaker boss, Yonhap said.

The KFA said the 48-year-old had been hired after "an open recruitment process," according to The New Indian Express. The KFA's National Teams Committee interviewed a handful of foreign-born candidates after reviewing their applications and finalized negotiations with Moreno and his staff over the weekend, Yonhap reported. The KFA also hired a five-man backroom staff, including top assistant Eduardo Docampo and veteran analyst Jacint Magrina.

Fixtures and possible extension

South Korea will host Ecuador on September 24, Uruguay on September 28, Venezuela on October 2 and Uzbekistan on October 6, Yonhap and The Korea Times reported. The KFA is also trying to schedule two more matches inside the November 9-17 FIFA international window. After those November matches, South Korea will compete in the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia starting in January.

Moreno could lead the team at the Asian Cup, the KFA said, "subject to an evaluation" of his performance, as reported by The New Indian Express.

Power Enhancement Committee Chairman Hyun Young-min said in a statement: "Coach Moreno already has a deep understanding of Korean football and impresses with enthusiasm, proposing various tactical alternatives," as carried by The Straits Times and The Star. "After a tough process, I hope the Moreno squad, appointed through a challenging process, will play a role in turning the national team's atmosphere and improving performance," he added.

The KFA said Moreno is signed through Nov. 27 but he will be given a chance to serve in a full-time role for the Asian Cup, depending on the team's performance this fall, according to Yonhap.

Background and controversies

Moreno coached his native Spain for nine matches in 2019, with Luis Enrique on a leave of absence, Yonhap reported. He then went on to coach three clubs -- AS Monaco in France, Granada in Spain and FC Sochi in Russia. Moreno previously worked as a scout for FC Barcelona and served as an assistant for Enrique at AS Roma, Celta Vigo and FC Barcelona, according to Yonhap and The Korea Times.

The New Indian Express reported that Moreno took over the Spanish national team on a temporary basis in 2019 from Luis Enrique and was appointed full-time in June that year after Luis Enrique resigned because his daughter Xana was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. Spain rehired Luis Enrique to replace Moreno in November 2019 after his daughter's death. The coach accused Moreno of being "disloyal" for trying to stay in charge for Euro 2020.

Moreno, who left the top-flight side Sochi in September 2025 after a poor run of results, was accused by Russian media in January of using AI to prepare for games during his time in charge, The New Indian Express reported. He denied the reports, writing in an open letter sent to Spanish newspaper Marca: "I have never used ChatGPT or any AI to prepare matches, decide line-ups or choose players. That is completely false." Moreno said he used technology in his job but made his decisions himself and with his staff. "My career in football began precisely through data and video analysis. It's what I specialise in and what made the difference in my early days," he said.

The KFA has faced broader scrutiny. Police raided KFA headquarters last month as part of an investigation into Hong's 2024 appointment, The New Indian Express reported. The KFA also apologised for allegations that it provided sexual entertainment for foreign referees, according to the same report.