Shin Tae-yong, Hwang Sun-hong Duel on Indonesia vs South Korea in U-23 Asian Cup Quarterfinals

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia is slated to confront South Korea in the quarterfinals of the U-23 Asian Cup 2024 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The match will kick off at 00:30 Jakarta time on April 26.

Shin Tae-yong, coach of the young Indonesian squad, admitted that he has mixed feelings about facing his compatriots. “This is my first experience against my own country and it is difficult for me. But if I was not the South Korean coach, it would not be that hard,” he said at a press conference on Wednesday, April 24.

Here are the profiles of Shin Tae-yong and Hwang Sun-hong:

Shin Tae-yong

Shin Tae-yong was born on October 11, 1970, in Yeongdeok, South Korea. He embarked on his career as a professional footballer with Seongnam FC. He won the K-League Classic title three times (1993, 1994, and 1995), the Asian Club Championship (1995), and the Asian Super Cup (1996) with Seongnam FC.

He is also a renowned footballer on the international stage. He represented the South Korean national team in various prestigious tournaments, including the 1998 World Cup and the 1996 Asian Cup. After retiring in 2005, he ventured into the world of coaching starting in 2009 with Seongnam FC, leading the club to victory in the 2010 AFC Champions League.

He was then entrusted with the responsibility of leading the South Korean U-23 and U-20 national teams, guiding them to a gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games and a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games. This outstanding performance led him to become the coach of the South Korean senior national team in 2017. He, therefore, led South Korea to compete in the 2018 World Cup.

In 2019, Shin Tae-yong accepted a proposal to coach the Indonesian national team, sparking controversy. However, he came with a long-term vision: to lead Indonesia to compete in the 2026 World Cup.

Although his coaching has yet to yield bright results, Shin Tae-yong and the Indonesian team have made tangible progress. Under his guidance, Indonesia reached the final of the 2020 AFF Cup (senior team) and qualified for the Asian Senior Championship for the first time. He has also brought the Indonesian U-23 national team one step closer to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Hwang Sun-hong

For South Korean football fans, Hwang Sun-hong is a legend. Born on July 14, 1968, Hwang was renowned, not only as a fiery striker but also as a composed coach who could lead his team to victory.

His magical touch succeeded in propelling FC Seoul to the 2013 AFC Champions League title, an unprecedented achievement for the club. Hwang's expertise and achievements with the club drew the South Korean Football Federation's attention.

In September 2021, he was appointed coach of the South Korean U-23 national team. Under his leadership, the team won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. Finally, in February 2024, Hwang was appointed as the interim coach of the senior team following the resignation of the previous coach, Shin Tae-yong. Despite his interim status, he was able to lead the team to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Asian U-23 Championship.

ANANDA RIDHO SULISTYA  | HENDRIK KHOIRUL MUHID I LALA DITA PANGESTU

Editor's Choice: Shin Tae-yong Comments on Indonesia vs South Korea in U-23 Asian Cup Quarterfinals

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