Korea Republic legend Hwang Sunhong has been appointed as the coach of men’s U-23 national team.

KFA appointed the 53-year-old to lead the U-23 side for next year’s AFC U-23 Asian Cup, the Asian Games Hangzhou 2022, as well as the Olympic Games Paris 2024. The contract expires after the Olympic finals in 2024, with his tenure to be reassessed after the Asian Games in September next year.

Hwang will hold a press conference to be broadcast online on Thursday morning, along with Kim Pangon, Chairman of KFA’s National Team Committee, who will brief the media on the procedure of the appointment.

Kim said: “Hwang has rich experience from his professional coaching career over the years, winning the K League and the FA Cup twice respectively. It’s fair to say that he rates as a successful coach in terms of organising his teams and nurturing young talents.”

Having participated in four consecutive FIFA World Cup finals from Italy 1990 to Korea/Japan 2002, Hwang was a legendary striker of Korean football in his playing days – ranked second after Cha Bumkun with 50 goals in 103 appearances for Korea Republic in the all-time scoring record. After hanging up his boots, he began his coaching career as assistant coach at Jeonnam Dragons before taking reins of Busan IPark, Pohang Steelers, FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen. He was also the first coach in Korean football to have claimed a domestic double of the K League and the FA Cup, with Pohang Steelers in 2013.

His first competitive match in charge is scheduled to take place between 27 and 31 October in Singapore, the host nation of Group H matches in the qualifying for the 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. Should Korea Republic qualify for the finals in Uzbekistan next June, they will be defending the title they won under the guidance of former coach Kim Hagbum. Hwang’s charges will also be aiming for a third successive gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou the following September.