Cho plans short stint
New South Korea coach Choi Kang-hee wants to lead the national team through qualification for the 2014 World Cup and then step down to return to club management.
Choi was appointed on Wednesday and succeeds Cho Kwang-rae who was dismissed on December 8 following poor results.
After seven seasons with Jeonbuk Motors and two K-league titles and the 2006 AFC Champions League triumph, Choi was reluctant to leave the current champions to take the national team coaching job and told a press conference in Seoul on Thursday that he hopes to Jeonju.
"I have requested that I be replaced before the World Cup if we get that far,'' he said. "The saddest part is to leave Jeonbuk and that is why I refused the job at first. Even until a week ago, I didn't even think at all that I would be leaving Jeonbuk.
"I thought about it a lot and it is not a case of goodbye but so long. The contract with the national team will end in June 2013. Personally, I want to return to Jeonbuk.''
November's loss in Lebanon not only cost Cho Kwang-rae his job but left the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists needing a point against Kuwait on February 29 to be sure of a place in the final phase of qualification.
"The game against Kuwait is the most important thing,'' Choi said. "I think that I should select more K-league players than overseas player as those overseas are not playing so much for their clubs and can lose some of their sharpness.''- http://soccernet.espn.go.com
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