Bonfrere quits as South Korean coach
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-08-24 09:48

SEOUL, August 23 (Xinhua) -- Dutchman Jo Bonfrere has stepped down as coach of South Korea's national team, the country's football association (KFA) said on Tuesday.

South Korean national soccer team's head coach Jo Bonfrere enters the Seoul World Cup stadium before his team's 2006 World Cup qualifier soccer match against Saudi Arabia in this August 17, 2005 file photo. [Reuters]

"Coach Bonfrere tendered his resignation last night, and the KFA technical committee respected his decision to step down," Lee Hoi-Taek, head of the committee, told a press conference.

The 59-year-old Bonfrere had steered South Korea to secure a berth in next year's World Cup Finals in Germany, but a string of recent poor results led to his exit.

South Korea's Red Devils fans started to lose their patience after the side lost 1-0 to Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifying tie.

In recent East Asia Football Federation Championship, South Korea also finished last behind China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Japan.

Fans vented their frustration by shutting down the KFA's website with messages demanding Bonfrere's removal.

The KFA had been lukewarm in their support when fans hit out at the Dutchman last Wednesday following the home loss to Saudi Arabia.

"We have decided on the switch, judging that it will be difficult for coach Bonfrere to normally carry out his job in the current situation," said Lee.

But Bonfrere insisted he stepped down on his own will. "I began thinking about quitting the job after the East Asian championships and decided to do so after the loss to Saudi Arabia, " he was quoted as saying by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

But he complained of not being given enough time and support. "The fans are only looking at the results without giving me enough time for training."

The KFA said that they will select a replacement as early as next month, before South Korea's friendly with Iran in October and several games with European teams in November.

Bonfrere was blamed for lacking a clear strategy and depending too heavily on the skills of individual players to rescue the team.

"Bonfrere achieved the goal of advancing the team to the World Cup finals," but this, however, is not enough to meet the expectations of the KFA and the public," Lee said.

Bonfrere took over from Humberto Coelho in June last year after the Portuguese coach failed to match the heightened expectations created by South Korea's run to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals under Dutchman Guus Hiddink.

Bonfrere was the fifth foreign coach to lead the South Korean team since German Dettmar Cramer was first named in 1992.

Under Bonfrere's 462-day leadership, South Korea recorded 10 wins, eight draws and six defeats.

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