Hong Myung-bo(also spelledHong Myeong-bo,Korean:홍명보,Hanja:Hồng minh phủ;Korean pronunciation:[hoŋmjʌŋbo];born 12 February 1969) is a South Korean football manager and formerfootballerwho played as asweeper.Hong is often considered one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.[3]He is the current manager ofSouth Korea national team.

Hong Myung-bo
Hong in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-02-12)12 February 1969(age 55)
Place of birth Seoul,South Korea
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Sweeper
Team information
Current team
South Korea(manager)
Youth career
1981–1983[1] Kwanghee Middle School
1984–1986[1] Dongbuk High School[ko]
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Korea University[ko]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991 Sangmu FC(draft)
1992–1997 Pohang Steelers 110 (14)
1997–1998 Bellmare Hiratsuka 42 (0)
1999–2001 Kashiwa Reysol 72 (7)
2002 Pohang Steelers 19 (0)
2003–2004 LA Galaxy 38 (0)
Total 281 (21)
International career
2000 South Korea U23 1[α] (0)
1991 South Korea B
1990–2002 South Korea 137 (10)
Managerial career
2005–2007 South Korea(assistant)
2009 South Korea U20
2009–2012 South Korea U23
2013 Anzhi Makhachkala(assistant)
2013–2014 South Korea
2015–2017 Hangzhou Greentown
2020–2024 Ulsan HD
2024– South Korea
Medal record
Men'sfootball
RepresentingSouth Korea(as player)
Summer Universiade
Gold medal – first place 1991 Sheffield[2]
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 1990 Beijing
AFC Asian Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2000 Lebanon
RepresentingSouth Korea(as manager)
Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 London
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2010 Guangzhou
EAFF Championship
Bronze medal – third place 2013 South Korea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Hong Myung-bo
Hangul
홍명보
Hanja
Hồng minh phủ
Revised RomanizationHong Myeong-bo
McCune–ReischauerHong Myŏng-bo

Hong was a member of the South Korean national team in fourFIFA World Cups,and was the first Asian player to play in four consecutive FIFA World Cup tournaments. He is also the first Asian player ever to receive the Bronze Ball at the FIFA World Cup.[4]He gained attention after showing his outstanding ability in the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup competitions. He received some votes in elections for theFIFA World Player of the Year,finishing 21st in1996and 17th in2002.[5][6]Furthermore, he was also selected for theFIFA 100,Pelé's selection about the 125 greatest living footballers in the world.[7]

International career

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1990 FIFA World Cup

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Hong was named inSouth Korea's squad for the1990 FIFA World Cupjust four months after his international debut.[8]The youngest South Korean player to participate in the tournament, Hong played all of the three matches in the group stage and received the most praise in South Korea despite losing all group matches.[9][10]

1994 FIFA World Cup

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Hong was selected as a member ofSouth Korean Universiade teamin1991.[2]He stabilized South Korea's defense, helping them advance to the final.[11]He scored South Korea's first penalty in the shoot-out after South Korea drew the final with the Netherlands without a goal during 120 minutes. Hong and South Korea won a gold medal by defeating the Netherlands on penalties.[12]

Hong's talent began to receive attention in earnest since the1994 FIFA World Cup.When South Korea had only five minutes to catch upSpain,which was leading the match with the score of 2–0, he scored South Korea's first goal outside the penalty area, and assisted his teammateSeo Jung-wonto score the equaliser shortly after his goal.[13]While South Korea was losing to defending championsGermanyby conceding three goals in the first half, Hong scored one of South Korea's two goals in the second half with a long-range shot.[14][15]

1998 FIFA World Cup

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Hong participated in the1994 Asian Gamesafter the World Cup, but he injured his knee during the quarter-final match againstJapan.[16]South Korea lost toUzbekistanin the semi-finals after he quit the tournament.

WhilePark Jong-hwanmanaged South Korean national team, Hong was in conflict with Park who had a coercive disposition, and was criticized for forming his faction in the team.[17]He was also doubted whether he played the game lazily after South Korea lost 6–2 toIranin the quarter-finals of the1996 AFC Asian Cup.[18]

Under the next managerCha Bum-kun,South Korea recorded one draw and two defeats including a 5–0 loss to theNetherlandsin the group stage of the1998 FIFA World Cup.Hong also failed to prevent South Korea's elimination in the group stage.[19]

2002 FIFA World Cup

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Hong was going to be selected as an over-aged player ofSouth Korean under-23 teamfor the2000 Summer Olympics,but he was injured just before the tournament.[20]

In the2000 AFC Asian Cup,Hong was selected for the All-Star Team, although South Korea failed to win the title by losing the semi-final match againstSaudi Arabia.

Hong captained South Korea to a historic fourth-place finish in the2002 FIFA World Cup.He scored the winning penalty to secure a 5–3 shoot-out victory after a goalless draw in the quarter-final match against Spain. The Technical Study Group voted Hong as the third best player of the tournament, giving the Bronze Ball to him. He became the first-ever Asian player to be named one of the top three players in a World Cup.

In that year, Hong ended his international career after a friendly match against World Cup championsBrazilas the all-time leader in appearances forSouth Korean national team.[21]

Style of play

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Hong didn't have rapid pace, untiring stamina or outstanding ability inman-to-man defense,but he possessed a wide field of vision as well as great leadership skills with which he marshalled his defensive partners.[22][23][24]An offensivesweeper,he was noted for his accurate long-range passing skills which greatly contributed to South Korea's attack.[25]He was nicknamed the "Eternal Libero" by the South Korean media, and became a preeminent icon of South Korean football during his era.[26]

Managerial career

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South Korea

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On 26 September 2005, after his retirement as a player, Hong returned to the national team as assistant coach. Helping the managerDick Advocaat,Hong took part in the2006 FIFA World Cup,and worked with the next managerPim Verbeekin the2007 AFC Asian Cup.After the resignation of Verbeek, he was one of the candidates to become the next manager.

TheKorean FAannounced that it had appointed Hong as the manager of theSouth Korea under-20 team,on 19 February 2009. Under his guidance the team reached the quarter-finals of the2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup,but were eliminated due to a 3–2 defeat toGhana,the eventual champions.

Hong also served an assistant coach forSouth Korea under-23 teamunderPark Sung-hwa.In October 2009, he took over the coaching duties at under-23 team. He led his team into third place in the2010 Asian Games.On 10 August 2012, Hong Myung-bo coached the men's Olympic team to a 2–0 win overJapanto secure the bronze medal at the2012 Summer Olympics,which set up a record by obtaining the first medal ever for South Korea in Olympic football as well as being the first Asian team in 44 years to win a medal at that event.[27]

Choi Kang-hee,the previous manager ofSouth Korea,resigned from his position at the end of the2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.After working as assistant coach toGuus HiddinkatRussian Premier LeagueclubAnzhi Makhachkalafor half a year, Hong was appointed as the new manager of the team on 24 June 2013 to prepare the team for the2014 FIFA World Cup.[28]After a winless FIFA World Cup campaign, Hong resigned from his post on 10 July 2014.[29]

Hangzhou Greentown

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On 17 December 2015, Hong was appointed as the manager ofChinese Super LeagueclubHangzhou Greentown.In his first match on 6 March 2016, he guided the team to a 2–1 win overChangchun Yatai.However, his team was relegated to the second division after the2016 season.The next year, he resigned from the club and criticised the club's owner for interfering in tactics and selection of players.[30]

Ulsan Hyundai

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On 24 December 2020, Hong was appointed as the manager ofK League 1clubUlsan Hyundai.[31]He led the club to win two consecutive national league titles in2022and2023.[29]

Return to South Korea

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On 8 July 2024, Hong was reappointed as the manager of the South Korea national team for the second time.[29]

Personal life

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Hong married Cho Soo-mi, who was five years younger than him, in 1997. He has two sons, Hong Seong-min and Hong Jeong-min. One of them is currently attendingKorea International School.[citation needed]Hong also has two younger siblings. Hong is known for his reticence and charisma.[32]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33]
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sangmu FC(draft) 1991 Semipro League [a] [b] [c]
Pohang Steelers 1992 K League 29 1 8 0 37 1
1993 K League 11 1 1 0 12 1
1994 K League 17 4 0 0 17 4
1995 K League 24 1 7 0 31 1
1996 K League 29 7 [d] 5 0 [e] 34 7
1997 K League 0 0 [d] 6 0 [e] 6 0
Total 110 14 27 0 137 14
Bellmare Hiratsuka 1997 J1 League 10 0 3 1 0 0 13 1
1998 J1 League 32 0 2 0 0 0 34 0
Total 42 0 5 1 0 0 47 1
Kashiwa Reysol 1999 J1 League 28 5 4 2 5 2 37 9
2000 J1 League 29 2 2 0 2 0 33 2
2001 J1 League 15 0 0 0 3 0 18 0
Total 72 7 6 2 10 2 88 11
Pohang Steelers 2002 K League 19 0 [d] 0 0 19 0
LA Galaxy 2003 Major League Soccer 25 0 2 0 [f] 27 0
2004 Major League Soccer 13 0 0 0 13 0
Total 38 0 2 0 40 0
Career total 281 21 13 3 37 2 331 26
  1. ^Appearance(s) inKorean National Championship
  2. ^Appearance(s) inKorean Semi-professional Championship
  3. ^Appearance(s) inKorean President's Cup
  4. ^abcAppearance(s) inKorean FA Cup
  5. ^abAppearance(s) inAsian Club Championship
  6. ^Appearance(s) inCONCACAF Champions' Cup

International

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  • Appearances and goals by national team and year[34]
    National team Year Apps Goals
    South Korea 1990 20 2
    1991 1 0
    1992 3 1
    1993 18 2
    1994 14 4
    1995 5 0
    1996 16 1
    1997 12 0
    1998 9 0
    1999 5 0
    2000 11 0
    2001 7 0
    2002 16 0
    Career total 137 10
  • Appearances and goals by competition
    Competition Apps Goals
    Friendlies 48 2
    Minor competitions 26 2
    CONCACAF Gold Cup 2 0
    Asian Games 9 1
    AFC Asian Cup qualification 3 1
    AFC Asian Cup 9 0
    FIFA Confederations Cup 3 0
    FIFA World Cup qualification 20 2
    FIFA World Cup 16 2
    Total 136 10
  • Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
    List of international goals scored by Hong Myung-bo
    No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
    1 3 August 1990 Beijing,China 10 China 1–0 1–1 (a.e.t.)
    (6–5p)
    1990 Dynasty Cup
    2 23 September 1990 Beijing, China 13 Singapore 1–0 7–0 1990 Asian Games
    3 24 August 1992 Beijing, China 23 North Korea 1–0 1–1 1992 Dynasty Cup
    4 13 May 1993 Beirut,Lebanon 29 India 1–0 3–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
    5 19 October 1993 Doha,Qatar 39 Iraq 2–1 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
    6 5 June 1994 Boston,United States 46 Ecuador 1–1 1–2 Friendly
    7 17 June 1994 Dallas,United States 48 Spain 1–2 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup
    8 27 June 1994 Dallas, United States 50 Germany 2–3 2–3 1994 FIFA World Cup
    9 11 September 1994 Gangneung,South Korea 51 Ukraine 1–0 1–0 Friendly
    10 8 August 1996 Ho Chi Minh City,Vietnam 69 Chinese Taipei 1–0 4–0 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification

    Honours

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    Player

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    Sangmu FC

    Pohang Steelers

    Kashiwa Reysol

    South Korea B

    South Korea

    Individual

    Records

    Manager

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    South Korea U23

    Ulsan Hyundai

    Individual

    See also

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    Notes

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    1. ^Appearance as an overage player in a friendly

    References

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