Documentary selection for the interim head coach position of the South Korean national football team has concluded. Former head coach of Jeonju Hyundai, Gas Poiet, who was among the final candidates for the national team role in 2024, did not pass the selection process. Attention now shifts to other foreign coaches who have expressed interest in leading the team.
Selection Process and Candidates
On the 17th, the Korea Football Association announced, “We have completed the documentary selection among candidates who applied for the interim head coach position during the open recruitment held last weekend.” Several coaches from both South Korea and abroad submitted applications for the interim head coach role. Notably, Gas Poiet, who garnered significant interest, reportedly did not meet the documentary requirements.
When appointed as the head coach of the South Korean national team in 2024, Poiet was among the final candidates. Ultimately, the Korea Football Association appointed Hong Myung-bo as head coach. Following this, Poiet took the helm at Jeonju in 2025, establishing a direct connection with Korean football. In his first season, he led the team to victory in both the K-League and the Korean Cup, achieving a double crown. After parting ways with Jeonju, he attempted once again to lead the national team through the open recruitment process for the interim head coach position.
Poiet actively participated in forming the coaching staff, even proposing the current technical director of Yeonins FC, Lee Dong-guk, for the national team coaching position. However, this time, his attempt concluded at an earlier stage than two years prior. With Poiet out of the running, attention naturally shifted to other foreign coaches.
Potential Candidates
One of the candidates is former Spain national team head coach Roberto Moreno. According to Chinese publication Sina Sports, “Moreno has applied to participate in the open recruitment for the interim head coach position of the South Korean national team.” This is not Moreno’s first attempt; after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he also applied for the head coach position when a successor to Paulo Bento was sought in 2023. Reports indicate that he showed considerable interest in Korean football and even conducted specific preparations.
However, the Korea Football Association appointed former coach Jurgen Klinsmann at that time. Three years later, Moreno is once again challenging for the head coach position of the South Korean national team. His journey has taken him from acting head coach of the Spanish national team to officially leading teams such as Monaco (France), Granada (Spain), and others. From 2023 to 2025, he managed Russian club PFC Sochi.
Other candidates mentioned as potential contenders include Domenec Torrent, who worked for a long time as an assistant to former Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola, and Jesus Casa, who previously managed the Iraq national team. Earlier, Japanese sports publication Sports Nichi reported that the candidate pool for the South Korean national team head coach position had narrowed down to three individuals: Poiet, Casa, and Torrent. However, following the news that Gas Poiet did not pass the documentary selection, the credibility of those reports diminished.
Both Casa and Torrent hail from Spain. Notably, Domenec Torrent has held key roles in the coaching staff of Barcelona (Spain), Bayern Munich (Germany), and Manchester City (England) under Pep Guardiola. From 2018 to 2019, he managed New York City FC in MLS (USA), employing formations such as 4-3-3 and 3-4-3. He later led Galatasaray (Turkey), Atletico San Luis, and CF Monterrey (both in Mexico).
Jesus Casa currently manages Singapore’s Lion City Sailors in the Singapore Premier League. He began his tenure in February and signed a contract through the 2027–2028 season. Casa was appointed head coach of the Iraq national team in November 2022 and led the team until April 2025. Notably, shortly after his appointment, he guided Iraq to victory in the 2023 Gulf Cup, securing the country’s first championship in this tournament in 35 years. In the 2024 Asian Cup in Qatar, he led Iraq to a 2-1 victory over Japan, further showcasing his coaching abilities. Casa is recognized as a coach who emphasizes possession-based play, striving for active offense and high pressing.
Next Steps in the Selection Process
The Korea Football Association plans to conduct online interviews with candidates who have passed the documentary selection. The schedule for these interviews may be partially adjusted during coordination with each candidate. The list of candidates for the interviews will not be disclosed. Currently, it remains unclear whether Moreno, Torrent, and Casa have passed the documentary selection. The Korea Football Association clarified, “To protect personal data and considering the current selection process, we will not provide detailed information about the candidates who applied and those who passed the selection.”
Following the interviews, negotiations will commence. Based on the evaluation committee’s results, the Korea Football Association will determine the priority order for negotiations with candidates and initiate comprehensive discussions with top candidates. The head coach position of the South Korean national team is currently vacant. Former head coach Hong Myung-bo, who led the team since 2024, resigned, taking responsibility for the team’s disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup in North and Central America. In the group stage of the tournament, the South Korean national team secured one victory and suffered two defeats, leading to their exit from the tournament.
The Korea Football Association plans to manage the national team in an interim capacity until a permanent head coach is appointed in September to October of this year, during the international match window. The South Korean national team is scheduled to play Ecuador on September 24 and Uruguay on September 28. Subsequently, friendly matches against Venezuela and Uzbekistan will take place on October 2 and October 6, respectively.
