Hong Myung-bo's Salary Ranked 16th at 2.16 Million Euros… 48-Year-Old Moreno Approved as KFA's First Spanish Manager

The Korea Football Association approved the appointment of Moreno as interim manager at its September 1 board meeting. His contract runs through November 27, and 6 A-matches will serve as the evaluation stage for filling Hong Myung-bo's old post.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

Summary in Three Lines

At its September 1, 2026 board meeting, the Korea Football Association approved the appointment of Spanish-born Roberto Moreno as interim manager.
His contract runs through November 27, 2026, and could be extended to the January 2027 Asian Cup depending on the evaluation of 6 matches.
His predecessor Hong Myung-bo's estimated salary was 2.16 million euros (about 3.8 billion won), 16th among the 48 World Cup managers.

The predecessor is a 57-year-old Korean; the successor is a 48-year-old Spaniard. The age gap is nine years. This is the first time a Spaniard has taken charge of the Korean senior national team. Hong Myung-bo's second stint ran from July 13, 2024 to June 28, 2026, and ended with elimination in third place in the group at the North and Central America World Cup. A three-month contract for a tactical coach from Luis Enrique's staff has filled that seat.

Moreno's contract runs through November 27, with the Asian Cup as the extension condition

KFA executives in a meeting room at Cheonan Korea Football Park voting on the appointment of the national team manager at a board meeting — KFA 7th board meeting / Graphic = Whale SV

Yonhap News reported that the Korea Football Association approved the appointment of Moreno as interim manager at its 7th board meeting, held around 11 a.m. on September 1 at Cheonan Korea Football Park. The contract expires on November 27, 2026. Sports Kyunghyang reported that a condition was attached allowing an extension to the January 2027 Asian Cup after an evaluation of the results and performances over 6 matches.

Three months, 6 matches. That is unusually short for a national team manager's contract. He is also the first senior national team manager chosen through an open recruitment process. The Hankyoreh reported that the coaching staff was assembled from Spaniards, including Eduardo Docampo and Jacint Magrinya. The selection process was led by Hyun Young-min (46), chair of the national team strength committee.

The team will face Ecuador at Suwon World Cup Stadium on September 24 and Uruguay at Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 28. In October, it will meet Venezuela at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on the 2nd and Uzbekistan at Yongin Mir Stadium on the 6th. All kickoffs are at 20:00, per the Korea Football Association's official schedule. The opponents and venues for the 2 November matches had not been decided as of September 1.

Hong Myung-bo's Salary: 2.16 Million Euros, 16th Among 48 World Cup Managers

"Hong Myung-bo salary" is a phrase that still turns up in search bars as is. The answer is an estimate. Maeil Business Newspaper reported on June 26, citing a Salaryleaks tally, that the former manager Hong's salary was 2.16 million euros (about 3.8 billion won), and that among the managers of the 48 World Cup finalists, he ranked 16th. The figure is an estimate that excludes bonuses.

Rank	Manager	Estimated Salary	National Team
14	Julen Lopetegui	2.4 million euros	Qatar
15	Vincenzo Montella	2.2 million euros	Türkiye
16	Hong Myung-bo	2.16 million euros	South Korea
17	Néstor Lorenzo	2 million euros	Colombia
18	Sebastián Beccacece	2 million euros	Ecuador
29	Hajime Moriyasu	821,000–865,000 euros	Japan

The gap is 240,000 euros from 14th-ranked Lopetegui and 160,000 euros from 17th-ranked Lorenzo. The 2.16 million euros is about 2.6 times the 821,000 euros of Japan's manager Moriyasu. The KFA did not disclose the manager's salary in a 2024 National Assembly inquiry, and in 2026 it was reported to have denied the 3.8 billion won claim.

Moreno's Career: Unbeaten in 9 Matches With the Spanish National Team

Moreno was born on September 19, 1977, making him 48 as of September 1, 2026. Some Korean reports put him at 49. With no professional playing career, he began coaching at PB Colblanc in 2003, and from 2014 he worked as a coach on Luis Enrique's staff, passing through AS Roma and FC Barcelona. On his official website, he wrote, "Since I wasn't a player, I study twice as hard."

According to FIFA data, his record with the Spain senior national team from March to November 2019 was 9 matches, 7 wins, 2 draws, unbeaten, and Spain finished first in Group F of Euro 2020 qualifying. At clubs, he went 5 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses in 13 matches at AS Monaco, 6 wins, 10 draws and 13 losses in 29 matches at Granada, and 21 wins, 21 draws and 20 losses in 62 matches at FC Sochi. Across the three clubs, that totals 104 matches with 32 wins, 34 draws and 38 losses, a win rate of 30.8%.

Let's also look at the numbers of the man who stepped aside. Hong Myung-bo was born on February 12, 1969, and is 57. According to Transfermarkt records, he played 136 A-matches and scored 10 goals as a player, tied with Cha Bum-kun for second all-time in appearances for Korea. He won the FIFA Bronze Ball in 2002, and as a manager he has a bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympics and two straight K League 1 titles with Ulsan.

The time given to Moreno runs from the September 24 match against Ecuador to November 27, exactly 6 matches. The association said it will decide again, based on the results of this evaluation, whether to continue through the 2027 Asian Cup. A record of 9 matches unbeaten with the Spanish national team, a 30.8% win rate over 104 club matches, and a predecessor worth 2.16 million euros. Moreno's salary has not been disclosed. The yardstick for measuring Moreno is 6 matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How old is Hong Myung-bo?

He was born on February 12, 1969, and is 57 as of September 1, 2026. He is nine years older than his successor, interim manager Moreno (born September 19, 1977, age 48).

Q. What was Hong Myung-bo's salary?

The estimate compiled by Salaryleaks in June 2026 was 2.16 million euros (about 3.8 billion won), 16th among the 48 World Cup finalist managers. It is not an officially announced figure, and the Korea Football Association was reported to have denied the amount.

Q. How long is Manager Moreno's contract?

It runs through November 27, 2026. Sports Kyunghyang reported that it includes a condition allowing an extension to the January 2027 Asian Cup after an evaluation of the results and performances in the 6 A-matches from September to November.

Related Official Sites

Korea Football Association Official Website — You can check official announcements on national team appointments and board meetings
Korea Football Association Match Schedule — You can check the dates and venues of the 4 A-matches in September and October
Korea Football Association Archive of Past National Team Managers — It lists past managers and their tenures
FIFA's Official Article on Moreno's Appointment — You can check Moreno's coaching history and results

Lead image · Photo = Wikimedia Commons (Jpbarrass at English Wikipedia), Public domain