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Hong Myung-bo

Hong Myung-bo
홍명보
Hong Myung-Bo.jpg
Hong in 2013
Personal information
Full name Hong Myung-bo
Date of birth (1969-02-12) February 12, 1969 (age 48)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11 12 in)
Playing position Sweeper
Club information
Current team
Hangzhou Greentown
Youth career
1987–1990 Korea University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991 Sangmu FC (military service) ? (?)
1992–1997 Pohang Steelers 110 (14)
1997–1998 Bellmare Hiratsuka 42 (0)
1999–2001 Kashiwa Reysol 72 (7)
2002 Pohang Steelers 19 (0)
2003–2004 LA Galaxy 38 (0)
Total 281 (21)
National team
2000 South Korea U-23 (as wild card) 1 (0)
1990–2002 South Korea 136 (10)
Teams managed
2009 South Korea U-20
2009–2012 South Korea U-23
2013–2014 South Korea
2016– Hangzhou Greentown
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
Hong Myung-bo
Hangul 홍명보
Hanja 洪明甫
Revised Romanization Hong Myeong-bo
McCune–Reischauer Hong Myŏng-bo

Hong Myung-bo (Korean: 홍명보, Hanja: 洪明甫; Korean pronunciation: [hoŋmjʌŋbo]) (born February 12, 1969 in Seoul) is a South Korean former footballer and former manager of the South Korean national team. Hong, alongside compatriot Cha Bum-kun, is often considered one of the greatest Asian footballers of all time. Hong was a member of the South Korean national team in four World Cups, and was the first Asian player to play in four consecutive World Cup final tournaments.

Hong often played as a centre-back but also played at the full-back position. He was often touted to be the best sweeper in Asia at that time. He was often cited as the "Korean Libero" by the media due to his ability to play deep into the midfield and strike a long distance ball. He retired as a player following the end of the 2004 Major League Soccer season, having finished his career with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He was chosen among the "FIFA 100", Pelé's selection of the 125 greatest living footballers in the world. He was the only South Korean footballer in the FIFA 100. He was also the recipient of the 2002 FIFA World Cup Bronze Ball. No other Asian player has yet achieved this feat.

He managed the South Korea national under-20 football team in 2009, and led the team to the quarterfinals in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Since being appointed in 2009, he has worked as head coach of the under-23 football team. Under his guidance, the South Korean national football team was able to receive the bronze in the 2012 London Olympics, which set up a record by obtaining the first medal ever for South Korea in Olympic football as well as being the first Asian team in 44 years to win a medal at that event. On June 24, 2013, Hong was appointed as the head coach of South Korean national football team to lead the team in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but resigned the post a year later following the team's poor showing at the World Cup.


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