Coupe du monde 2026 : Sous la menace, l'ex-sélectionneur de la Corée du Sud quitte précipitamment son pays pour les États-Unis
The pressure became unbearable for Hong Myung-bo. Just two days after returning to South Korea, the former national coach boarded a plane back to the United States, where he hopes to find some peace of mind after the Taeguk Warriors' premature elimination from the 2026 World Cup.
According to the Spanish daily "Marca," the South Korean coach left Seoul on Thursday aboard a flight to Los Angeles. His departure is reportedly directly linked to the numerous death threats he has received since South Korea's elimination from the World Cup group stage.
At Incheon International Airport, Hong Myung-bo appeared with his face hidden under a cap and a mask, avoiding any contact with the media. This image illustrates the particularly tense atmosphere surrounding the former defender, long considered one of the greatest legends of South Korean football.
Upon his return to the country last Tuesday, he received a particularly hostile reception. Angry fans confronted him, chanting virulent slogans, while posters calling for his departure quickly appeared in several Seoul neighborhoods. Some businesses reportedly even refused him entry.
Before leaving his country, Hong Myung-bo dismissed rumors of internal conflicts within the national team and also denied reports of a supposed suspension of player Jens Kastrup. Without going into details, he simply stated: "I have a lot to say, but the truth will come out one day."
South Korea's journey had started promisingly with a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic. However, two consecutive defeats, against Mexico (1-0) and then South Africa by the same score, led to their elimination in the first round.
This latest failure is reminiscent of the 2014 defeat, also under the leadership of Hong Myung-bo. Aware of his responsibilities, the coach submitted his resignation at the end of the competition, stating that he fully accepted responsibility for this failure.
The affair has taken on national dimensions. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called the elimination "astonishing" and demanded an investigation into the management of the national team. He also announced an acceleration of reforms aimed at modernizing the organization of South Korean sports to prevent such a crisis from recurring.
Commentaires (7)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.