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Robert Moreno, appointed interim manager of the national football team, arrives via Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the 13th. / Yonhap News

Robert Moreno of Spain, who stepped up to rescue the South Korean national football team in crisis following the 2026 North and Central America World Cup, arrived in the country on the 13th and stated, "I will focus on leading the squad to unite the players and make the nation proud."

Arriving at Incheon International Airport alongside five members of his coaching staff, Moreno expressed his ambitions, saying, "I came to South Korea with great dreams and a deep sense of responsibility."

Moreno was appointed interim manager through an open recruitment process as the Korea Football Association sought a temporary head to lead six international friendlies from September through November. He has taken on the role of a firefighter for a adrift national squad following the resignation of former head coach Hong Myung-bo amid poor World Cup performances. The 48-year-old manager served as assistant coach at FC Barcelona from 2014 to 2017 and briefly took charge of the Spanish national team in 2019. He is evaluated as having built a solid managerial track record thereafter at clubs such as Monaco in France, Granada in Spain, and Sochi in Russia. In addition to the European staff, domestic coaches Cho Yong-hyung and physical fitness coach Lee Jae-hong joined the bench to complete the coaching setup.

While Moreno's contract runs through November 27, it is understood to include an option to extend through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup to be held in Saudi Arabia in January next year.

Regarding the matter, Moreno stressed, "My objective is to concentrate on the tasks immediately before me," adding, "I will focus solely on the national team. Though an interim manager, I will strive to build a better squad."

The newly launched squad under Moreno will contest four international friendlies in September and October. The team will face Ecuador at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 24th, followed by Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 28th. The squad will then take on Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on October 2 and Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium on October 6.

Moreno is scheduled to hold an inaugural press conference at 2 p.m. on the 14th at the Korea Football Park in Cheonan and announce his roster for the September and October friendlies. While core regulars such as Son Heung-min (LAFC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid) are widely expected to be called up, attention is centered on which new faces will be picked by Moreno, who noted he has been keeping a close eye on the K League.

                                                                                                         Lee Jang-won