Coach Paulo Bento, who brought Korea to the round of 16 in the World Cup finals after 12 years, will return to his home country, Portugal, on the 13th.
The Korea Football Association announced on the 12th that it will depart on a flight to Dubai departing from Incheon International Airport at 11:50 pm on the 13th.
Coach Bento took office on August 23, right after the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and ended his life in Korea after 4 years and 4 months. Four coaches of the ‘Bento Division’ are also returning to Portugal.
Coach Bento has lived in Ilsan, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, close to the Paju National Football Team Training Center (NFC). Immediately after advancing to the round of 16, congratulatory banners were hung in the apartment where coach Bento lived.
Coach Bento is evaluated as having led the team stably as the Korean national team’s head coach. Coach Bento is the longest-serving coach of the Korean national team based on his single term. It also set the record for his most wins (35 wins, 13 draws and 9 losses) during his tenure.
He was criticized by some soccer fans for his ‘build-up football’, which developed a pass from the defensive line and maintained high ball possession, but eventually achieved a great achievement by advancing to the round of 16 after 12 years.
Coach Bento leaves without renewing the contract with the Korea Football Association. It is known that he failed to narrow the contractual disagreement with the Korea Football Association and previously expressed his intention to decline the renewal of the contract in September. After the round of 16 match against Brazil, he announced the breakup to the media.스포츠토토
After spending time in Portugal to recharge, coach Bento is expected to decide on his next move.