Choi, who replaces long-term coach Yoon Duk-yeo, will lead the national team for the second time, having also overseen their bronze medal-winning campaign at the 2010 Asian Games.
The two-year contract covers Korea Republic’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games qualifying campaign, with Choi’s position to be re-evaluated prior to the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Choi’s appointment comes following an overwhelming record of success at club level, where he has led Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels to six consecutive WK League titles.
The 47-year-old’s familiarity with the current Korean squad is seen as one of his key strengths, with Incheon providing 10 of the 23 players who represented the nation at this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup France 2019.
He also has prior experience as a national youth team coach, leading Korea Republic to the final of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship in 2009 and earning a third-place finish at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup the following year.
Choi’s predecessor, Yoon, stepped down after six years in charge following an unsuccessful France 2019 campaign, where Korea Republic lost all three group matches to be one of the first teams eliminated.
The new era of Korean women’s football begins with one of the most challenging assignments in world football; away friendlies against world champions United States on October 3 and 6.
The first competitive matches under Choi will come in December’s EAFF E-1 Football Championship in Busan, before Korea Republic’s bid to qualify for Tokyo 2020 begins next February.
Photo: Korea Football Association
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