Football commentator Kim Hyeong-beom, a former national team player, made a remark to the effect that ‘a domestic coach would have done this much’ regarding the coach of the Korean national team at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Paulo Bento, causing controversy among soccer fans.
Football commentator Kim Hyung-beom appeared on the soccer analysis YouTube channel ‘Channel Success’ on the 14th and commented on Bento’s World Cup performance.
Commissioner Kim said on YouTube, “It is a dangerous story, but (the positive reaction to coach Bento) is a phenomenon that appears because coach Bento achieved this grade,” and “If coach Bento had poor grades, the arrow would not have been a joke. There were many fans who were waiting for him even before he went to the World Cup,” he said.
He continued, “(The fans) all suddenly changed and are calling it ‘Benverji. But there are too many people who didn’t. He has a bit of a pot temperament.”
He pointed out, “I applaud Bento for playing good football, but he showed anxiety in the process, and there were definitely things to complain regarding to our fans.”
Commissioner Kim also said, “The composition of the Qatar World Cup players in Korea is often expressed as the best ever,” and “When you look at the Bento level and the domestic coach level… I think (any coach) would have played soccer like this.”
He said, “It is true that Bento has achieved achievements, but he said that Korean football has changed because he has changed a tremendous amount in Korean football, and that ‘build-up’ has completely changed. A great achievement that made football? I don’t really see it that way.”
In addition, “Of course, I admit that our players have been able to do it to some extent because they have been working on the basic build-up for a long time. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t a member who mightn’t do that.” He added, “I admit the credit. It is not intended to be disparaging,” he added.
Commissioner Kim said, “If you look at the games we played, it is difficult to see it as build-up soccer. We played defensive football, organized football and dedicated football. Bento didn’t try to play this kind of football.”
Some soccer fans reacted critically to Commissioner Kim’s remarks. They left comments such as “You have to acknowledge the achievements”, “Isn’t coach Bento being ignored too much?”, “Coach Bento has raised good players for 4 years”.
In September 2018, coach Bento, who took over as coach of the Korean national soccer team, succeeded in advancing to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar following 12 years.
Some fans wanted Bento to continue to lead the national team, but Bento left Korea on the 14th as he might not narrow the disagreement during the contract renewal negotiations.
