Ahn Jung-hwan Opened Mouth About ‘Next Director Theory’… ‘You Don’t Even Check With Me’

[이데일리 김민정 기자] Ahn Jung-hwan, a football commentator, has expressed his position on being named as the successor to coach Paulo Bento.

In an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on the 12th, Jeong Jae-hoon, CEO of Ahn’s agent Moro Sports, dismissed the rumors of Ahn as the next head coach of the Korea national football team as “unfounded.”

According to CEO Jeong, Commissioner Ahn said, “Do you make people talk about this absurd reason without asking or controlling me?” I lack the skills,” he said.

In this regard, CEO Jeong said, “Commissioner Ahn has never had a phone call or an interview regarding this matter. He stressed, “I wonder if you’ve thought about the position of the person concerned, football fans and the people, to publish speculation on the important issue of the national team coach,” he said.

Rep. Jeong also mentioned Ahn’s future moves. He said: “Commissioner Ahn intends to gradually reduce the schedule of existing TV programs. After completing all leadership training in principle, I am planning leadership training in Europe and Japan, where I played,” he said. Ahn had previously said that the World Cup in Qatar was the “last comment.” of him.

The “director Ahn Jung-hwan theory” started when Sports Chunchu reporter Park Dong-hee mentioned Ahn on YTN radio’s “News King Park Ji-hoon” on the 8th. Reporter Park said, “The name of director Choi Yong-soo, who is being talked about a lot now, also comes up. And there is also a story about Ahn Jung-hwan, who comments on football.”

In response, the host said, “I think it’s fair to say that Ahn Jung-hwan is a broadcaster.” Reporter Park replied, “Yes. And there is the story of director Kim Hak-beom. Of course, all these people deny that they have never talked to the Football Association. The overall direction of the Korean Football Association will probably be decided by the Korean coaches. It seemed that the annual salary was set at less than 1 billion won”.

(Photo = Yonhap News)

Since then, reports have been arriving and on the 10th the Korean Football Association (KFA) announced: “We express serious concern about the reckless and speculative reports in some media outlets regarding the appointment of a new national coach.” It is doubtful who the person concerned is, and even if an official of the Korean Football Federation has made such a statement, it is only his personal opinion and not the official position of the Korean Football Federation. still held, and is now being prepared for discussion.”

Ahn Jung-hwan scored twice during the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and took Korea to the semi-finals. During his active career, he played for Yokohama Marinos and FC Metz, and after his retirement he is active as a football commentator at the MBC during broadcasts.

Meanwhile, Paulo Bento Coach will depart from Incheon Airport with Flight EK323 at 11:30pm on the 13th.

Portuguese coach Bento took over in September 2018 as the successor to former coach Shin Tae-yong. Bento, who set a new record for longest tenure as coach of the Korea national football team, presented Korean football with access to the last 16 of the World Cup for the first time in 12 years. However, the association with Korean football ended with the Round of 16 match against Brazil.

On the 7th, coach Bento said goodbye, saying, “The past four years have been very satisfying” and “Korea will forever remain in my career as well as in my life.”

Bento seems to be taking a break in Portugal for the time being and looking for another destination.