Gangwon FC appoint ex-national team star Choi Yong-soo as new coach

South Korean football club Gangwon FC announced Tuesday they've hired former national team striker Choi Yong-soo as new head coach. Choi, 48, is taking over a team in danger of relegation from the top-flight K League 1. With two matches remaining this season, Gangwon FC are in 11th place, second from last, with 39 points, only three ahead of Gwangju FC. The last-place club in the K League 1 will be automatically relegated to the K League 2 for next year. The 11th-place team will face a K Leagu

Nov. 16, 2021

S. Korea looking to build on robust performance in World Cup qualifier vs. Iraq

Fresh off a wildly entertaining performance, South Korea will seek to give their fans even more to cheer about in their next World Cup qualifying match against Iraq. The second meeting between the two teams in Group A of the final Asian qualifying round will kick off at Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Doha at 6 p.m. Tuesday local time, or midnight in Seoul. Iraq are playing their home matches at neutral venues for security reasons. Following a 1-0 win over the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last Thur

Nov. 15, 2021

Training camp opens for S. Korea ahead of Nov. World Cup qualifiers

The South Korean men's national football opened training camp Monday ahead of two World Cup qualifying matches this month. Players reported to the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, just north of Seoul in Gyeonggi Province, for a three-day camp before they host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday. South Korea will then face Iraq on Nov. 16 in Qatar as a neutral venue. Head coach Paulo Bento named his 25-man roster last Monday, and three Europe-based players who just completed their

Nov. 8, 2021

Son Heung-min scores in Conte's Tottenham coaching debut

Son Heung-min has scored in his new head coach's Tottenham Hotspur debut, helping the English club to a continental win in the process. Son opened the scoring for Spurs in the 15th minute of their 3-2 victory over Vitesse in a Group G match of the UEFA Europa Conference League at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Thursday (local time). This was Tottenham's first game since the arrival of their new Italian boss Antonio Conte on Tuesday. Conte, who won the Italian league title with Inter Mi

Nov. 5, 2021

Natl. football coach chooses fit over goal totals in surprise roster decision

When Paulo Bento, head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, scouts strikers, he doesn't just look at their goal totals. After making a surprising choice at the forward position Monday ahead of two World Cup qualifiers this month, Bento said a player's adaptability and tactical fit are just as important as goals. That's how he explained his call-up of Kim Gun-hee, a 26-year-old striker for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K League 1. Kim has scored six goals in 20 matches for

Nov. 1, 2021

S. Korea blanked by US 6-0 in women's football friendly

South Korea lost to the United States 6-0 in the last of their two women's football friendly matches on American soil, unable to put up much of a fight against the top-ranked opponent. Five players had a goal apiece for the US in their resounding victory at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Tuesday (local time), with South Korean midfielder getting an own goal late in the first half. South Korea fell to four draws and 11 losses all time against the US. South Korea, ranked 18th, held the

Oct. 27, 2021

Ulsan Hyundai FC looking to keep 'double' bid alive at FA Cup

Having recently failed in their bid to win three major titles this year, South Korean football club Ulsan Hyundai FC will try to stay in the hunt for two trophies this week. Ulsan, currently in second place in the top-flight K League 1, will host the K League 2 club Jeonnam Dragons in the semifinals of the Korean FA Cup on Wednesday. The kickoff at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, some 415 kilometers southeast of Seoul, is 7 p.m. The other semifinal contest, between Gangwon FC and Daegu FC, wi

Oct. 26, 2021

S. Korea hold mighty US to scoreless draw in women's football friendly

Bending without breaking, South Korea held world No. 1 United States to a scoreless draw in the first of their two women's football friendlies on American soil. Goalkeeper Yoon Young-geul made key saves, and the visitors played some dogged defense against the American onslaught at Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, on Thursday (local time). The draw snapped the US home winning streak at 22 matches. The last time the US had failed to win at home was also against South Korea -- a 1-1

Oct. 22, 2021

No rest for weary Pohang Steelers ahead of crucial K League match

Pohang Steelers will have little time to celebrate a recent victory in a continental tournament, as they gear up for a crucial K League match on Sunday. Pohang knocked out defending champions Ulsan Hyundai FC on penalties to reach the final in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Wednesday. Come Sunday, though, Pohang will find themselves in survival mode in the domestic league, which will return to full action following an international break. Pohang, along with 11 other

Oct. 22, 2021

Deja vu all over again for Ulsan in crushing loss to Pohang at AFC Champions League

Before Ulsan Hyundai FC took on their regional rivals Pohang Steelers for a spot in the final of the top Asian club football tournament Wednesday night, few pundits and oddsmakers had predicted a loss by the mighty K League 1 leaders. After all, Ulsan had much more firepower and boasted superior depth at all positions. They hadn't lost in their past 17 matches in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League. And they were also the defending champions. Ulsan had already taken down an

Oct. 21, 2021

S. Korean regional derby set in AFC Champions League semifinals

For the second straight year, a South Korean team will vie for the championship trophy at Asia's top club football tournament. We will find out Wednesday night which team that will be. Two K League 1 clubs and regional rivals, Ulsan Hyundai FC and Pohang Steelers, will clash in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League on Wednesday. The kickoff is 7 p.m. at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. Ulsan won the 2020 AFC title and will

Oct. 18, 2021

Son Heung-min scores for Tottenham, quells COVID-19 speculation

After being subject to rumors about a possible COVID-19 infection over the weekend, Son Heung-min scored for Tottenham Hotspur in their latest victory. The South Korean star netted his team-leading fourth goal of the Premier League season in their 3-2 win over Newcastle United at St. James' Park in Newcastle, England, on Sunday (local time). Son is tied for fifth overall in the league in goals, three behind co-leaders, Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Jamie Vardy of Leicester City. Son's goal w

Oct. 18, 2021

Pohang Steelers reach AFC Champions League semifinals

Pohang Steelers reached the semifinals of the top Asian club football tournament with a 3-0 victory over Nagoya Grampus on Sunday. Lim Sang-hyub grabbed a brace and Lee Seung-mo added another for Pohang's convincing win in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, 240 kilometers south of Seoul. This will be Pohang's first trip to the final four at the AFC competition since 2009, which is the last time they won the tournam

Oct. 17, 2021

S. Korea to release promotional tourism video featuring Son Heung-min

A video featuring football star Son Heung-min promoting South Korea as a tourist destination will be unveiled this week, the culture ministry said Sunday. The 80-second video with Son of Tottenham Hotspur is aimed at allowing viewers to feel South Korea's unique and attractive features so as to draw more overseas visitors to the country in the post-pandemic era. The video will be available on Monday on social media channels run by the Korea Tourism Organization, the ministry said, adding that

Oct. 17, 2021

S. Korea not about to change style for key World Cup qualifier vs. Iran

South Korea will face their biggest challenge yet in the final Asian qualifying round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, when they visit Iran in their first away match of the ongoing phase. With Iran being the highest-ranked Asian team at No. 22, 14 spots above South Korea, this may call for some adjustments for the Taeguk Warriors. But South Korea head coach Paulo Bento isn‘t about to change the team’s overall approach. “What we know is that it will be a different gam

Oct. 11, 2021

S. Korea looking to end drought vs. Iran in away World Cup qualifying match

Regardless of what their head coach says, South Korean players should know this will not be just another match. South Korea will face Iran in their first away match of the final Asian qualification round for the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday. The kickoff at Azadi Stadium in Tehran is 5 p.m. (local time), or 10:30 p.m. in Seoul. At No. 22, Iran are the highest-ranked team from Asia, 14 spots above South Korea. Iran are also leading Group A of the ongoing phase with three straight wins, having

Oct. 11, 2021

Nat'l football captain Son Heung-min hopes for fans' return

As he reported to the national football team's training camp Tuesday ahead of two World Cup qualifiers, captain Son Heung-min had just one wish. "I'd like to play in front of fans," the Tottenham Hotspur star said after arriving at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, in a video clip shared by the Korea Football Association (KFA) Tuesday. Son won't get that wish this time -- at least not at home. South Korea will host Syria at Ansan Wa Stadium in Ansan, Gyeo

Oct. 5, 2021

[Newsmaker] Park Ji-sung asks United supporters to stop singing his fan chant

South Korean soccer icon Park Ji-sung called on Manchester United fans to stop singing a song about him, during an interview with the team’s podcast released Sunday. Park recalled hearing his song, which includes a disparaging joke about Koreans eating dog meat, and shared his mixed feelings. “Having a fan chant is meaningful for the player. This is something that I am very proud of. But when I heard the lyrics, I was uncomfortable,” said Park, who joined Manchester United in

Oct. 4, 2021

Injured Son Heung-min to miss Tottenham's upcoming continental match

Tottenham Hotspur's South Korean star Son Heung-min will miss the club's continental match this week with a leg injury sustained on recent international duty. Tottenham will face the French club Stade Rennais FC in Rennes, France, on Thursday to open Group G action at the UEFA Europa Conference League. After arriving in France on Wednesday, Tottenham head coach Nuno Espirito Santo told reporters that Son didn't travel with the Premier League club. Son was one of three Tottenham players missing i

Sept. 16, 2021

Daegu FC eliminated in round of 16 at AFC Champions League

Daegu FC crashed out of Asia's top club football competition on Tuesday, as their first trip to the knockout stage lasted just one match. Daegu fell to Nagoya Grampus 4-2 at Toyota Stadium in Toyota, Japan, in the round of 16 at the Asian Football Confederation Champions League. Jakub Swierczok scored a hat trick for the winning side, with Shinnosuke Nakatani scoring the other goal for the Japanese club. For Daegu FC, Cesinha and Edgar had a goal apiece. This was Daegu's first appearance in

Sept. 14, 2021