Hong Myung-bo (, Hanja: 洪明甫; ; born 12 February 1969) is a former South Korean football manager and former footballer who played as a sweeper. He was most recently the head coach of the South Korea national football team.
He participated at four consecutive FIFA World Cups between 1990 and 2002, becoming the first Asian player to do so. He also received the Bronze Ball at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Asian to receive an individual award at the World Cup. He received some votes in elections for the FIFA World Player of the Year, finishing 21st in 1996 and 17th in 2002. In 2004, he was selected for the FIFA 100 by Pelé.
International career 1990 World Cup Hong was selected for the South Korea national team for the 1990 FIFA World Cup just four months after his international debut. The youngest player at the team, he was one of the few South Koreans to be acclaimed, while they lost all three group stage matches.
1994 World Cup Hong was selected for the South Korea Universiade team for the 1991 tournament. He stabilised his team's defense, helping them advance to the final. After a goalless draw with the Netherlands in the final, he scored his team's first penalty in a 5–4 penalty shoot-out win, contributing to winning the tournament.
Hong's talent started to receive attention internationally at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. During the last five minutes of South Korea's opener against Spain, he converted opponents' 2–0 lead into a 2–2 draw by scoring a goal outside the penalty area and providing an assist for Seo Jung-won's equaliser. He once again scored a long-range goal in a 3–2 defeat to defending champions Germany.
1998 World Cup Hong participated at the 1994 Asian Games after the World Cup, but he injured his knee during a quarter-final match against Japan. South Korea lost to Uzbekistan in the semi-finals after he quit the competition.
While Park Jong-hwan managed South Korea from 1995 to 1996, Hong was suspected of being in conflict with Park, who had a coercive disposition. The press reported that Hong formed a faction at the national team, and doubted whether Hong did his best at the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, where South Korea was eliminated after a 6–2 quarter-final defeat to Iran.
Under Cha Bum-kun, the next manager, South Korea had one draw and two defeats including a 5–0 defeat to the Netherlands in the group stage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Hong and his teammates conceded nine goals in three matches.
2002 World Cup Hong was going to be selected as an overage player of the South Korea under-23 team for the 2000 Summer Olympics, but he was injured just before the tournament.
At the 2000 AFC Asian Cup, where South Korea finished third, Hong captained the national team, and was selected for the All-Star Team.
Hong led South Korea to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He commanded South Korea's defensive line, which conceded only three goals until the semi-finals, and scored the final penalty to secure a 5–3 shoot-out win in a quarter-final match against Spain. Despite his error in the third place match against Turkey, which was followed by the fastest goal in World Cup history, the Technical Study Group voted him as the third best player of the tournament, giving the Bronze Ball to him. He became the first-ever Asian player to be named one of the top three players at a World Cup.
That year, Hong ended his international career after a friendly match against World Cup champions Brazil. He was South Korea's all-time leader in appearances with 136 caps at the time, and his record was broken by Son Heung-min in 2025.
Style of play Hong did not 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. An offensive sweeper, he was noted for his accurate long-range passing skills which greatly contributed to South Korea's attack. He was nicknamed the "Eternal Libero" by the South Korean media, and became a preeminent icon of South Korean football during his era.
Managerial career South Korea On 26 September 2005, after his retirement as a player, Hong returned to the national team as an assistant coach. He took part in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, helping manager Dick Advocaat. He also worked with the next manager Pim Verbeek at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. After Verbeek's resignation, he was one of the candidates to become the next manager.
On 19 February 2009, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced that they had appointed Hong as the manager of the South Korea under-20 team. At the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the team reached the quarter-finals under his guidance, but lost 3–2 to eventual champions Ghana in the quarter-finals.
In October 2009, he took over duties as a manager of the South Korea under-23 team. He won bronze at both the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He achieved South Korea's first-ever Olympic medal in football, also known as Asia's second.
After working as assistant coach to Guus Hiddink at Russian Premier League club Anzhi Makhachkala for half a year, on 24 June 2013, Hong was appointed South Korea's manager. His predecessor Choi Kang-hee resigned voluntarily at the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, and he started to prepare the 2014 FIFA World Cup, which was going to be held after a year. After a winless World Cup campaign, on 10 July 2014, he resigned from his post.
Hangzhou Greentown On 17 December 2015, Hong was appointed manager of Chinese Super League club Hangzhou Greentown. In his first match on 6 March 2016, he guided the club to a 2–1 win over Changchun Yatai. However, his team was relegated to the China League One after the 2016 season. The next year, he resigned from the club and criticised the club's owner for interfering in tactics and selection of players.
Ulsan Hyundai On 24 December 2020, Hong became the manager of K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai. He led Ulsan to win two consecutive league titles in 2022 and 2023.
Return to South Korea On 8 July 2024, Hong was controversially reappointed as South Korea's manager. KFA president Chung Mong-gyu, who preferred foreign managers to domestic managers, attempted to interfere in the selection process, but Hong's appointment was supported by executives and committeemen, much to the surprise and dismay of fans. He guided South Korea into qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup without a loss in the qualifiers, but produced inconsistent results in friendlies against World Cup participants prior to the tournament.
At the 2026 World Cup, South Korea produced a comeback win against Czech Republic 2–1, their first opening game win at the World Cup since 2010. However, opposing managers easily countered Hong's stubborn tactics, resulting in South Korea shiftlessly losing 1–0 to both Mexico and South Africa. His lack of tactical change prompted anger and fierce criticism from South Korean media and fans, in particular, not starting captain Son Heung-min in the final game against South Africa. On 28 June 2026, Hong resigned under intense fire from his compatriots, including South Korean president Lee Jae Myung, as restaurants barred him from entering. Hong eventually left the country for Los Angeles. However, some Korean-owned restaurants posted signs denying him service over his disastrous managerial stint.
Personal life In 1997, Hong married a woman five years his junior, and has two sons.
Career statistics
Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsSangmu FC (draft)1991Semipro League—Pohang Steelers1992K League291—80——3711993K League111—10——1211994K League174—00——1741995K League241—70——3111996K League29750—3471997K League0060—60Total11014270—13714Bellmare Hiratsuka1997J1 League1003100——1311998J1 League3202000——340Total4205100——471Kashiwa Reysol1999J1 League2854252——3792000J1 League2922020——3322001J1 League1500030——180Total72762102——8811Pohang Steelers2002K League19000——190LA Galaxy2003Major League Soccer25020——2702004Major League Soccer13000———130Total38020——400Career total2812113337233126
International + Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea1990202199110199231199318219941441995501996161199712019988019995020001102001702002160Total13610 +Appearances and goals by competitionCompetitionAppsGoalsFriendlies482Minor competitions262CONCACAF Gold Cup20Asian Games91AFC Asian Cup qualification31AFC Asian Cup90FIFA Confederations Cup30FIFA World Cup qualification202FIFA World Cup162Total13610 Results list South Korea's goal tally first. +List of international goals scored by Hong Myung-bo No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition1 3 August 1990 Beijing, China 10 1–0 1–1 1990 Dynasty Cup2 23 September 1990 Beijing, China 13 1–0 7–0 1990 Asian Games3 24 August 1992 Beijing, China 23 1–0 1–1 1992 Dynasty Cup4 13 May 1993 Beirut, Lebanon 29 1–0 3–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification5 19 October 1993 Doha, Qatar 39 2–1 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification6 5 June 1994 Boston, United States 46 1–1 1–2 Friendly7 17 June 1994 Dallas, United States 48 1–2 2–2 1994 FIFA World Cup8 27 June 1994 Dallas, United States 50 2–3 2–3 1994 FIFA World Cup9 11 September 1994 Gangneung, South Korea 51 1–0 1–0 Friendly10 8 August 1996 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 69 1–0 4–0 1996 AFC Asian Cup qualification
Managerial statistics
+ Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordSouth Korea U2019 February 20099 October 2009South Korea U2320 October 200927 June 2013South Korea27 June 201310 July 2014Hangzhou Greentown17 December 201527 May 2017Ulsan HD24 December 202011 July 2024South Korea8 July 202428 June 2026Total
Honours Player Sangmu FC Korean Semi-professional League (Autumn): 1991
Pohang Steelers Asian Club Championship: 1996–97 K League 1: 1992 Korean FA Cup: 1996 Korean League Cup: 1993
Kashiwa Reysol J.League Cup: 1999
South Korea B Summer Universiade: 1991
South Korea Asian Games bronze medal: 1990 AFC Asian Cup third place: 2000 Dynasty Cup: 1990
Individual FIFA World XI: 1997 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball: 2002 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002 FIFA World Cup Fans' All-Star Team: 2002 FIFA 100: 2004 AFC Asian All-Star: 1993, 1997, 2000 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2000 AFC Hall of Fame: 2014 AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020 AFC Fans' All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020 AFC Asian Cup All-time XI: 2023 IFFHS Asian Men's Team of the 20th Century: 2021 IFFHS Asian Men's Team of All Time: 2021 K League All-Star: 1992, 1995, 2002 K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 1992 K League 1 Best XI: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2002 K League 30th Anniversary Best XI: 2013 K League Hall of Fame: 2023 J.League All-Star: 1999, 2001 J1 League Best XI: 2000 MLS All-Star: 2003
Manager South Korea U23 Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2012 Asian Games bronze medal: 2010
Ulsan Hyundai K League 1: 2022, 2023
South Korea EAFF Championship runner-up: 2025
Individual K League Manager of the Month: August 2021, February/March 2022, February/March 2023 K League 1 Manager of the Year: 2022, 2023 K League All-Star: 2023
See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
Notes
References
External links
Hong Myung-bo at KFA
International Appearances & Goals rsssf.com Hong`s match winning goal Jleague 2000 FC Tokyo vs Reysol