1. Hong Myung-bo is the current manager of South Korea national team.
28 Facts About Hong Myung-bo
1. 2.
Hong Myung-bo 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 FIFA World Cup tournaments.
3.
Hong Myung-bo is the first Asian player ever to receive the Bronze Ball at the FIFA World Cup.
4.
Hong Myung-bo gained attention after showing his outstanding ability in the FIFA World Cup and AFC Asian Cup competitions.
5.
Hong Myung-bo received some votes in elections for the FIFA World Player of the Year, finishing 21st in 1996 and 17th in 2002.
6.
Hong Myung-bo was named in South Korea's squad for the 1990 FIFA World Cup just four months after his international debut.
7.
The youngest South Korean player to participate in the tournament, Hong Myung-bo played all of the three matches in the group stage and received the most praise in South Korea despite losing all group matches.
8.
Hong Myung-bo was selected as a member of South Korean Universiade team in 1991.
9.
Hong Myung-bo stabilized South Korea's defense, helping them advance to the final.
10.
Hong Myung-bo scored South Korea's first penalty in the shoot-out after South Korea drew the final with the Netherlands without a goal during 120 minutes.
11.
Hong Myung-bo's talent began to receive attention in earnest since the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
12.
Hong Myung-bo participated in the 1994 Asian Games after the World Cup, but he injured his knee during the quarter-final match against Japan.
13.
Hong Myung-bo failed to prevent South Korea's elimination in the group stage.
14.
Hong Myung-bo was going to be selected as an over-aged player of South Korean under-23 team for the 2000 Summer Olympics, but he was injured just before the tournament.
15.
Hong Myung-bo captained South Korea to a historic fourth-place finish in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
16.
Hong Myung-bo became the first-ever Asian player to be named one of the top three players in a World Cup.
17.
In that year, Hong Myung-bo ended his international career after a friendly match against World Cup champions Brazil as the all-time leader in appearances for South Korean national team.
18.
Hong Myung-bo 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.
19.
Hong Myung-bo was nicknamed the "Eternal Libero" by the South Korean media, and became a preeminent icon of South Korean football during his era.
20.
On 26 September 2005, after his retirement as a player, Hong Myung-bo returned to the national team as assistant coach.
21.
Hong Myung-bo served an assistant coach for South Korea under-23 team under Park Sung-hwa.
22.
Hong Myung-bo led his team into third place in the 2010 Asian Games.
23.
On 17 December 2015, Hong Myung-bo was appointed as the manager of Chinese Super League club Hangzhou Greentown.
24.
On 24 December 2020, Hong Myung-bo was appointed as the manager of K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai.
25.
Hong Myung-bo led the club to win two consecutive national league titles in 2022 and 2023.
26.
On 8 July 2024, Hong Myung-bo was reappointed as the manager of the South Korea national team for the second time.
27.
Hong Myung-bo married Cho Soo-mi, who was five years younger than him, in 1997.
28.
Hong Myung-bo has two sons, Hong Seong-min and Hong Jeong-min.