The Weight of Responsibility and Bitterness

Looking at the results, stepping down is the right decision. He himself stated, "All responsibility lies with the coach," and has decided to resign.

Just like after the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he has chosen to step down without making excuses this time as well.

However, on the other hand, it is quite bitter. Coach Hong Myung-bo is not someone who doesn't understand soccer.

He is a legend, the best defender in South Korea's history, and the captain of the team that achieved the 2002 World Cup semifinals.

As a coach, he has experienced all the ups and downs.

"Why did someone like him produce such results again?"

This question keeps lingering in my mind. Was it because he didn't understand soccer?

I don't think so.

Rather, I believe it was a problem of knowing too much.

Perhaps he was unable to adapt to changes while pushing his long-standing formula for success and soccer philosophy.

The 2-1 comeback victory against the Czech Republic in the first match of this tournament was certainly a great hope. At that time, I thought, "Now we're really getting into the groove," and started the morning in LA feeling good.

But then came the 0-1 loss to Mexico, and the final match against South Africa, where even a draw would have secured a spot in the top 32, ended in a 0-1 defeat.

In that flow, many fans likely felt similar frustration.

'Why is he so passive?'

'Why doesn't he make tactical changes first?'

'Why can't he change the flow even when losing?'

Even with the incredible 'golden generation' of Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, the bench's response was very disappointing.

The coach is ultimately in a position to read the flow of the game and make bold decisions. With inflexible tactics and stubborn player selections, the trust of the fans has crumbled.

To put it bluntly, he has faced the reality that relying on old methods in soccer no longer works on the world stage.

Still, I don't want to deny all the contributions Coach Hong Myung-bo has made to Korean soccer.

As a player, he was a hero who decorated a page in history, and as a coach, he experienced both glory and lonely failures.

His back as he steps down from the coaching position for the second time in the World Cup must not have been easy to bear.

What is truly important now is the 'next' step. More than who becomes the coach, what kind of soccer we will play is more important.

The era of hiring based solely on name recognition is over.

We are at a critical point where we need a leader who can accurately read the flow of modern soccer, be tactically flexible, and communicate organically with the players.

Every time I watch the national team games in LA, my feelings remain the same. Winning is great, and losing is upsetting. Even though my body is away, my heart for soccer is the same as those back in Korea.

I hope that instead of spending time blaming past failures, we can properly analyze this pain and use it as an opportunity for South Korean soccer to grow to the next level.

What fans ultimately want is to see the South Korean national team confidently securing victories with their own skills once again.