Coach Paulo Bento (53), who led Korean football to the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and the second time in the history of visiting tournaments at the Qatar World Cup, will return to his home country, Portugal, on the 13th.
The Korea Football Association announced on the 12th that “Director Bento will depart via Incheon International Airport on the night of the 13th.” Four Portuguese coaches, who were called the ‘Bento Division’, including head coach Sergio Costa (49), will return together. 안전놀이터
Coach Bento, who took command of the national soccer team in August 2018, is the longest-serving coach of the national team based on a single term. Bento, who left after planting ‘build-up’ in Korean football, played a total of 57 matches for 4 years and 4 months after taking office, including 4 matches in this World Cup, and recorded 35 wins, 13 draws and 9 losses, with a win rate of 61.1%. The win rate of 70% (7 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss) recorded in the Qatar World Cup Asian final qualifiers is the second highest record ever for a national team manager.
Coach Bento was offered a renewal contract by the Football Association after completing the Asian final qualifiers, but showed a different opinion on terms such as the contract period. Coach Bento told the Football Association in September that he had no intention of renewing the contract, but it was after the round of 16, which was the last game of the Qatar World Cup, that he informed the outside world, including the media. Bento’s contract period was until the last game of the World Cup in Qatar. After the round of 16 match against Brazil, coach Bento said, “For the time being, I will spend time in Portugal to recharge and think about my future plans.”
Soccer team captain Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham), who returned to Korea on the 7th after the World Cup in Qatar and stayed in Korea, will also leave for England on the 13th. Son Heung-min is expected to play an away game against Brentford in the English Premier League (EPL) on the 26th. Earlier, on the 22nd, there was a friendly match against Nice (France) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, but as the fracture around the eye has not fully recovered, it seems that the focus will be on the league game. Son Heung-min has participated in 13 EPL games this season and is recording 3 goals and 2 assists.