Hong Myung-bo

Hong Myung-bo (Korean: 홍명보, Hanja: 洪明甫; Korean pronunciation: [hoŋmjʌŋbo]; born 12 February 1969) is a South Korean former footballer who played as a sweeper, and the current head coach of Ulsan Hyundai. Hong is often considered one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time.[3]

Hong Myung-bo
Hong in 2013
Personal information
Date of birth (1969-02-12) 12 February 1969
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Sweeper
Club information
Current team
 Ulsan Hyundai (manager)
Youth career
1981–1983[1] Kwanghee Middle School
1984–1986[1] Dongbuk High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1990 Korea University
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)
National team
2000 South Korea U23 (WC) 1 (0)
1991 South Korea B
1990–2002 South Korea 136 (10)
Teams managed
2009 South Korea U-20
2009–2012 South Korea U-23
2013–2014 South Korea
2016–2017 Hangzhou Greentown
2021– Ulsan Hyundai
Honours
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
Olympic Games
2012 LondonTeam
Summer Universiade
1991 SheffieldTeam[2]
Asian Games
1990 Beijing Team
2010 Guangzhou Team
AFC Asian Cup
2000 Lebanon Team
EAFF Championship
2013 South KoreaTeam
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only
Hong Myung-bo
Hangul
홍명보
Hanja
洪明甫
Revised RomanizationHong Myeong-bo
McCune–ReischauerHong Myŏng-bo
In this Korean name, the family name is Hong.

Hong was a member of the South Korean national team in four FIFA World Cups, and was the first Asian player to play in four consecutive World Cup final tournaments. He is also the first Asian player ever to receive the Bronze Ball at the World Cup.[4] He gained attention after showing his outstanding ability in World Cup and Asian competitions. He received some votes in elections for the FIFA World Player of the Year, finishing 21st in 1996 and 17th in 2002.[5][6] Furthermore, he also became one of only two Asian players in the FIFA 100, Pelé's selection about the 125 greatest living footballers in the world.[7]

International career

Hong was named in the South Korea squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup just four months after his international debut.[8] The youngest South Korean player who participated in the tournament, Hong played all of three games in the group stage and received the most praise in South Korea, although they lost all group matches.[9][10]

Hong was also selected as a member of the South Korea Universiade team for the 1991 Summer Universiade.[2] He stabilized South Korea's defense, helping them advance to the final.[11] After drawing the final with the Netherlands without a goal during 120 minutes, he scored the first penalty in the shoot-out. Hong and South Korea finally won a gold medal by defeating the Netherlands on penalties.[12]

Hong's talent was proved in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. When South Korea had only five minutes to catch up Spain, 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 teammate Seo Jung-won to score the equaliser shortly after his goal.[13] In the match that took place two weeks later, South Korea was losing during the first half with the score of 3–0 against the defending champions Germany, represented by numerous skillful players including two Ballon d'Or winners Lothar Matthäus and Matthias Sammer.[14] In the second half, South Korean striker Hwang Sun-hong struck South Korea's first goal into the net, and Hong scored their second goal with a long-range shot to escape defeat. However, his goal was the last goal of the match.[15]

He participated in the 1994 Asian Games after the World Cup, but he injured his knee during the quarter-final match against Japan.[16] South Korea lost to Uzbekistan in the semi-finals after he quit the tournament.

When Park Jong-hwan managed the South Korea squad, Hong was in conflict with Park who had a coercive disposition, and was criticized for forming his faction in the national team.[17] He was also doubted whether he played the game lazily after South Korea lost 6–2 to Iran in the quarter-finals of the 1996 AFC Asian Cup.[18]

At the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France, South Korea was eliminated at the first round with one draw and two losses. He failed to prevent team's 5–0 loss in the second game against the Netherlands.[19]

He was selected as an over-aged player of the South Korea under-23 team for the 2000 Summer Olympics. However, he was injured just before the tournament and was replaced by Kang Chul.[20]

At the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, South Korea failed to win by finishing the tournament as third place, but Hong was selected for the All-Star Team.

Hong captained South Korea to a historic fourth-place finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He scored the winning penalty to secure a 5–3 shootout victory in the quarter final against Spain after a goalless draw. 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 in the top three players at a World Cup.

The leader of the Korean defense, Hong ended his international career after a 2002 friendly match against World Cup champions Brazil as the all-time leader in appearances for the South Korea national team, with 136 caps.[21]

Style of play

Hong didn't have rapid pace, untiring stamina or outstanding ability in man-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 offensive sweeper, 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

On 26 September 2005, after his retirement as a player, Hong returned to the national team as assistant coach. Helping the manager Dick Advocaat, he took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and worked with the next manager Pim Verbeek in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. After the resignation of Verbeek, he was one of the candidates to become the next manager.

The Korean FA announced that it had appointed him as the South Korea under-20 team, on 19 February 2009. Under his guidance the team reached the quarter-finals of the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but were eliminated due to a 3–2 defeat to Ghana, the eventual champions.

Hong also served an assistant coach for South Korea under-23 team under Park Sung-hwa. In October 2009, he took over the coaching duties at under-23 team. He led his team into third place in the 2010 Asian Games. On 10 August 2012, Hong Myung-bo coached the men's Olympic team to a 2–0 win over Japan to secure the bronze medal at the 2012 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]

He was named as assistant manager to Guus Hiddink at Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2012. After Choi Kang-hee, the former head coach of South Korea, took the responsibility of the team's poor performance in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification and resigned from his position, Hong Myung-bo was appointed as the new head coach of the team on 24 June 2013 to prepare the team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. After a winless World Cup campaign, Hong resigned from his post on 10 July 2014.

On 24 December 2020, Hong was appointed as the head coach of Ulsan Hyundai.[28]

Personal life

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 attending Korea International School. Hong also has two younger siblings. Hong is known for his reticence and charisma.[29]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[30]
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Other Total
Division AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals AppsGoals
Sangmu FC (draft) 1991Semipro League[lower-alpha 1][lower-alpha 2]—[lower-alpha 3]
Pohang Steelers 1992K League291—80——371
1993K League111—10——121
1994K League174—00——174
1995K League241—70——311
1996K League297[lower-alpha 4]50[lower-alpha 5]—347
1997K League00[lower-alpha 4]60[lower-alpha 5]—60
Total 11014270—13714
Bellmare Hiratsuka 1997J1 League1003100——131
1998J1 League3202000——340
Total 4205100——471
Kashiwa Reysol 1999J1 League2854252——379
2000J1 League2922020——332
2001J1 League1500030——180
Total 72762102——8811
Pohang Steelers 2002K League190[lower-alpha 4]00——190
LA Galaxy 2003Major League Soccer25020—[lower-alpha 6]—270
2004Major League Soccer13000———130
Total 38020——400
Career total 2812113337233126
  1. Appearance(s) in Korean National Championship
  2. Appearance(s) in Korean Semi-professional Championship
  3. Appearance(s) in Korean President's Cup
  4. Appearance(s) in Korean FA Cup
  5. Appearance(s) in Asian Club Championship
  6. Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions' Cup

International
  • Appearances and goals by national team and year[31]
    National teamYearAppsGoals
    South Korea 1990202
    199110
    199231
    1993182
    1994144
    199550
    1996161
    1997120
    199880
    199950
    2000110
    200170
    2002160
    Career total13610
  • Appearances and goals by competition
    CompetitionAppsGoals
    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
    Total13610
    • Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
    List of international goals scored by Hong Myung-bo
    No.DateVenue CapOpponentScoreResultCompetition
    13 August 1990Beijing, China 10 China PR1–01–1 (a.e.t.)
    (6–5 p)    		1990 Dynasty Cup
    223 September 1990Beijing, China 13 Singapore1–07–01990 Asian Games
    324 August 1992Beijing, China 23 North Korea1–01–11992 Dynasty Cup
    413 May 1993Beirut, Lebanon 29 India1–03–01994 FIFA World Cup qualification
    519 October 1993Doha, Qatar 39 Iraq2–12–21994 FIFA World Cup qualification
    65 June 1994Boston, United States 46 Ecuador1–11–2Friendly
    717 June 1994Dallas, United States 48 Spain1–22–21994 FIFA World Cup
    827 June 1994Dallas, United States 50 Germany2–32–31994 FIFA World Cup
    911 September 1994Gangneung, South Korea 51 Ukraine1–01–0Friendly
    108 August 1996Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 69 Chinese Taipei1–04–01996 AFC Asian Cup qualification

    Honours

    Player

    Sangmu FC

    Pohang Steelers

    Kashiwa Reysol

    South Korea B

    South Korea

    Individual

    Manager

    South Korea U23

    See also

    References
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