New National Team Coach Selected

Umberto Coelho (53) will take the helm of the Korean national soccer team, following Guus Hiddink. Coelho was the former coach of Portugal`s national team.

The Korea Football Association held a meeting at the Football Center in Shinmoon Ro yesterday, and selected Coelho the national coach. Accordingly, the association plans to finish up the negotiations by the end of this month. The terms and conditions of his employment are not known yet. But the association intends to sign up a two-year contract with him.

Thus, Coelho will make his first official appearance in the A-match against Columbia scheduled for March 29th. Coelho is the second foreign national coach. His predecessor, Guss Hiddink was the first non-Korean coach who led the national team.

Association`s senior official Kim Jin-gook explained, "What we considered most important was the ability to make cultural adjustment and to build up strategies suitable for Korean players in consideration of their physical conditions. In this respect, we come to conclude that Coelho is the best candidate we have." The officials of the association juxtaposed Coelho and Bruno Metsu (49), who was the former coach of Senegal. After reviewing them with focus on leadership and coaching skills, the officials unanimously decided on Coelho. They concluded that Coelho`s coaching style closely matches that of Guus Hiddink, which is characterized with speed and pressuring tactics.

Another senior official Kah Sam-hyun in charge of international affairs had been to Europe and confirmed, "Many coaches in Europe, including Hiddink, gave higher marks to Coelho. He is a person of character and has the ability to accustom himself to any culture." Coelho speaks four languages including English, Spanish and French.

Before starting his coaching career, Coelho was a star player. His career as a coach, however, does not look so bright. For 2 years from 1985, he led two pro Portugal teams. Then, from 1997, he took the helm of the Portuguese national team. Coelho began to be recognized when he led the Portuguese team to the semifinal in the European Championship in 2000. Thereafter, he led Morocco and resigned last July.

In the meanwhile, Ahn Jong-kwan, the coach of INI Steel, has got to lead the national women`s soccer team.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com