Seoul: Former South Korea international, Lee Min-sung, has been appointed as the new head coach for the under-22 men’s national football team, tasked with leading the team through the 2026 Asian Games and potentially the 2028 Summer Olympics.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Lee’s appointment, emphasizing his extensive experience and past contributions to South Korean football. Lee, 51, is a former national team defender with 67 caps, having represented South Korea in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He gained national fame with a decisive goal against Japan during a World Cup qualifying match in 1997.

After retiring from playing, Lee transitioned to a coaching career in 2010, gaining experience with clubs in China and South Korea. In 2018, he served as the top assistant coach for the South Korean U-23 team that won gold at the Asian Games in Indonesia and later contributed to the victory in the 2020 Asian Football Confederation U-23 Championship.

Lee’s recent coaching accomplishments include leading Daejeon Hana Citizen FC from the K League 2 to the K League 1, before resigning in May 2024. His appointment as head coach followed a rigorous selection process by the KFA’s National Teams Committee, which included reviewing candidates’ game models and tactical approaches.

Hyun Young-min, head of the National Teams Committee, praised Lee’s confidence and game model, highlighting his prior achievements. Lee’s first match as head coach of the U-22 team will be a friendly against Australia on June 6 at Yongin Mireu Stadium.

The match will feature notable players such as Stoke City midfielder Bae Jun-ho and Hannover 96 midfielder Lee Hyun-ju. South Korea, the three-time defending champions in Asian Games men’s football, aims to reclaim its position after failing to qualify for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, marking the first miss since 1984.