In 2016, I had an hour-long conversation with Kim Doo-hyun, who was in the final stages of his career, in Suncheon, Seongnam FC’s training center. At the time, coach Kim Hak-beom said, “We have an extra coach on the field,” indicating that he respected Kim’s ideas and approach to soccer. At the time, Kim stated that he wanted to “go down the path of coaching after retirement,” a clear goal.
In 2023, we got a sneak preview of what kind of soccer Kim Doo-hyun will play as a coach. After Jeonbuk Hyundai’s early-season struggles led to the resignation of head coach Kim Sang-sik, Kim took over as acting head coach for more than 40 days, acting as the link between the team and Dan Petrescu’s regime. He took over on May 5 against Seoul and recorded five wins, two draws, and one loss in eight games until June 11 against Gangwon. In their last three games, they beat Ulsan Hyundai, Daegu FC, and Gangwon FC. It was Jeonbuk’s best eight-game stretch this season.
Since leaving Jeonbuk, Petrescu has spent the last five months traveling back and forth between Korea and the U.S. to complete a P-level coaching course and manage his soccer school in Malaysia. In the meantime, he keeps up with K League 1 and 2 matches. Checking the status of the league and the performance of the players is an investment in the future.
As the evaluation of Kim Doo-hyun has increased due to his successful performance as acting head coach, there are many expectations that clubs will be looking for him this winter. With Daegu coach Choi Won-kwon’s success this season, the door is opening for managers born in the 80s, and Kim is at the forefront of the new generation. 보스토토 도메인
“It’s not true,” he says, “I haven’t heard anything concrete. I haven’t heard anything concrete,” he laughs. But he doesn’t deny the appeal of being an acting head coach. Looking back on the time he spent casually playing his own soccer, he talked about his envisioned soccer and direction.
- Is it fair to say that your performance as Jeonbuk’s acting head coach was a kind of teaser for the full-time manager, Kim Doo-hyun?
It was a great experience, and it gave me a taste of what it’s like to be a head coach. But I don’t want to overestimate my achievements at that time. I don’t know if there will be another day in my future when I can coach a squad and environment like that. I was the acting head coach, and my senior coach, Park Ji-sung, told me to do what I wanted to do without any pressure, so I was able to focus on soccer. It’s a time to think and study more. It’s a time to strengthen my inner ability to give good answers in any situation. - I say this humbly, but as acting head coach, you have taken the team up the ladder quickly. What were the first areas you touched?
When I took over as acting head coach, I was honest with the players. I’m not a leader, I don’t have the authority, and I’m going to leave eventually. I’m not a leader, I don’t have the authority, and I’m going to leave.