South Korea have turned to Roberto Moreno to steady the ship after Hong Myung-bo's resignation following their group-stage exit from the 2026 World Cup. The 49-year-old Spaniard was approved by the Korea Football Association board on Tuesday, making him the first Spanish coach to lead the national team — and he's brought five Spanish staff members with him.
Moreno's name will ring a bell for anyone who followed Spain's national team closely. He spent years as Luis Enrique's right-hand man at Celta Vigo, Barcelona, and with La Roja. When Enrique stepped away from the Spain job in 2019 to be with his seriously ill daughter, Moreno didn't just hold the seat warm — he was eventually handed the role on a permanent basis. He's done this before, in other words. Stepped into a difficult situation and managed.
What this actually means for South Korea
After Enrique returned to Spain, Moreno went out on his own. AS Monaco, Granada, Sochi — a CV that shows ambition and range, if not a trophy cabinet. South Korea aren't getting a proven title-winner. They're getting someone who understands how to stabilise, which is exactly what this squad needs right now.
The interim tag matters here. His contract runs only through November 27, covering six internationals from September onwards. His first match in charge is against Ecuador on September 24 in Suwon. A KFA extension through the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia is on the table — but it's tied directly to results in those friendlies. Low-stakes on paper. High-stakes in reality.
South Korea's Asian Cup prospects, and any associated odds attached to them, hinge heavily on whether Moreno can inject some tactical coherence into a squad that just embarrassed itself on the biggest stage. A Spanish coaching setup brings a recognisable philosophy — pressing, positional structure — but whether that translates quickly to a squad built on very different football culture is the real question nobody can answer yet.
Enrique, now at PSG, built his reputation partly on having Moreno beside him. Now Moreno gets to find out what he's worth on his own terms. Six matches to make the case.
