Hong Myungbo is preparing to go to a seventh FIFA World Cup either a player or coach
Korea Republic head coach is aiming to replicate the success of the 2002 generation
Discusses winning the Bronze Ball at that tournament and Son Heungmin's impact on the current side
Later this month, Hong Myungbo will achieve a feat that even the great Mario Zagallo couldn't. As a player, Zagallo won the FIFA World Cup™ at Sweden 1958 and Chile 1962, before guiding Brazil to glory as head coach at Mexico 1970. He would go on to serve on Brazil’s coaching staff at USA 1994, before returning as head coach to lead the Seleção at France 1998.
Korea Republic head coach Hong is on the verge of eclipsing that mark as he is now gearing up to make a seventh appearance at the tournament, as either a player or coach.
As a player, Hong made his first FIFA World Cup appearance in 1990 at the age of just 21. He went on to star at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Cups, and after retiring from playing, went to Germany 2006 as an assistant coach under Dick Advocaat. Brazil 2014 marked Hong's sixth appearance on football's biggest stage, and he will now push that tally to seven at the forthcoming global finals.
FIFA sat down with Hong to discuss what the World Cup means to him, the legacy of Korea Republic’s run to the semi-finals at Korea/Japan 2002, and his thoughts on the growth of Korean football over the past two decades.
Hong Myungbo: It's the dream for any player. Most footballers start playing because they love the game. As they develop, the usual target is to represent their country and, once they manage that, their focus turns towards making the World Cup. The World Cup is every footballer's dream.
The 1990s were a very difficult period for Korea because of the financial crisis, and in 2002 it felt as though the country was only just coming out the other side of it. People seemed exhausted after everything they had been through.
As a team, we could see how much people were looking forward to the World Cup and we went into it with the hope of making people happy, particularly after such tough times. In the end, being able to bring so much joy to our country was incredibly rewarding. The 2002 World Cup united the entire nation and that made it very special. I am very proud to have contributed to that as a player.
Making it to the semi-finals was what mattered most, but personally it was an incredibly tense moment. There was an enormous amount of pressure on me. Waiting for my turn during the shoot-out was probably the hardest part. More than anything, I was happy just to have it behind me (laughs).
It would be wonderful if the players could repeat that success, but I do not want what we achieved in 2002 to become a burden on the current squad. The players understand the responsibility that comes with representing their country, but I want them to see the World Cup as a stage to enjoy rather than to fear.
Personally, I don’t talk to the players about 2002. Instead, I spend more time talking about what we need to do going forward and the challenges that lie ahead. I mean, some of the players in our current squad weren’t even born when we reached the semi-finals. It feels like ancient history to them.
Although I won the Bronze Ball, I don't see it as something I did alone. Korea Republic had a great tournament, and I felt it was representative of our performance as a team. At the same time, winning such a prestigious award was a huge honour for me personally.
Times have changed. We are dealing with a different generation of players now, and they have a very different mindset. I think that while there is more to the game than fighting spirit, it's still one of our biggest strengths. I see it as an important part of preparing for a World Cup - it's something we must cultivate within the squad.
Yes, Son Heungmin has played many important roles for the national team over the years, and I expect him to make a significant contribution at this World Cup as well. Son is now an experienced player, and that experience means he understands what is required at each stage of preparing for and competing in a World Cup.
I hope he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself, stays in good shape, and is able to make the kind of contribution we know he can. I totally understand the weight of responsibility and pressure that comes with being captain. I try to help ease that burden whenever I can.
These days, many of our players are competing in Europe, and I think that has removed any fear they might once have had of the world stage. It’s very different from when I was a player. If our players continue to grow in confidence and build trust in one another, I believe we can be one of the top teams rather than a side just capable of producing the occasional upset.
Sources: FIFA Official
