Coach Kim Hak-beom, The Oldest Player in the K-League says, “The Role of the National Team Coach is to Discover Players”
“It is important to have a natural generational change in the national team… The national team must have ample resources.”
“It is important to have a natural generational change."
Jeju United coach Kim Hak-beom (64), who observed the dismissal of former national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the U-23 national team coach Hwang Sun-hong's 'temporary acting system as national team head coach', said 'the players' lack of professionalism' and 'the head coach's lack of professionalism'.
He did not hide his regret, saying that it was the result of his failure to fulfill his role. 동행복권파워볼
Coach Kim led the Korean U-23 national team to a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, and went on to win the 2020 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship.
He is a ‘winning contractor.’
He is a ‘veteran’ leader who led the K League championship (2006, Seongnam Ilhwa) and the Korea Football Association (FA) Cup (2014, Seongnam FC) on the K-League stage.
Coach Kim, who was also mentioned as a candidate for the national team command post prior to the appointment of coach Klinsmann, took charge of Jeju in December of last year and returned to the K-League stage after seven years, having briefly left the team as the head coach of Gwangju FC in 2017.
Coach Kim, who is the 'K League's oldest' coach across the first and second divisions this season, drew 1-1 with Gangwon FC in the opening game of Hana Bank K League 1 2024 on the 2nd and then lost 3-1 in the home opening game of the second round against Daejeon Hana Citizen on the 10th.
1 victory and led an undefeated streak of 2 consecutive games.
In particular, Jeju also experienced the joy of winning the K-League home opening game for the first time in 7 years by defeating Daejeon.
Coach Kim, who met with reporters before facing Daejeon on the 10th, did not hold back on giving sincere advice on the somewhat uncomfortable topic of the national team's situation.
'Klinsmann' was stranded after a year due to the failure to advance to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Finals and the internal strife within the team, called 'Table Tennis Gate'.
Regarding this, Coach Kim Hak-beom said, “Player discipline is really important.
He emphasized, “As the coach cannot forcefully handle the players, the players must set their own rules and stick to them.”
He added, “It may seem like overseas professional teams are more free, but that is not the case.
“In fact, the internal discipline is stricter,” he said, adding, “It is unfortunate to see that some players misunderstand ‘professional culture.’”
Coach Kim also emphasized the proper role of the national team leader.
He said, "Regardless of the controversy between domestic and foreign coaches, the biggest role of the national team's head coach is to strengthen the resources of the national team players."
Coach Kim believes that a national team that relies only on a few ‘star players’ will inevitably reach its limits.
Coach Kim Hak-beom said, “The time has come when players born in 1992, such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Jin-soo (Jeonbuk), and Lee Jae-seong (Mainz), who form the core of the national team, should naturally think about a generational change.”
He added, “If we rely only on their performance, “The national team cannot develop in the long term,” he said.
He raised his voice, saying, "The national team's head coach must always continue to discover new players and let them gain experience."