National Football Team Gets New Coaching Staff

Ex-World Cup star Kim Nam-il has returned to the field but this time as a coach for the Korean national football team.

Kim was appointed by new manager Shin Tae-yong, who replaced Uli Stielike to save the team from the brink of failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.

Kim, who retired in April last year, was the last player of the 2002 World Cup squad to retire. He is likely to be in charge of disciplining players.

"I don't know about other things, but I did think there was lack of desperation (on the team)," he said on Wednesday.

Cha Du-ri, who served as an advance scout for the national team under Stielike, also returned as a member of the coaching staff, some 70 days after his abrupt departure.

"Cha declined the offer several times, but finally decided to join after a week of persuasion," Shin said. "He is expected to contribute to facilitating communication between players and the coaching staff."