South Korea want Javier Aguirre. The Korea Football Association is preparing to formally contact the 67-year-old within days, according to TV Azteca, after a 2026 World Cup group stage exit that ended Hong Myung-bo's tenure and left Korean football in a state of genuine crisis.
"Korea is preparing a new project aimed at the 2030 World Cup. Aguirre has emerged as one of the most attractive candidates," TV Azteca reported. That framing matters — this isn't a panic hire. It's a four-year rebuild, and Aguirre fits the brief of a coach who can impose structure on a squad that clearly doesn't have it.
What went wrong in 2026
The numbers are damning. South Korea went 1-2 in the group stage — a 2-1 comeback win over Czechia, then back-to-back 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa. A squad carrying 19 overseas-based players, including Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, scored exactly one goal after matchday one.
The South Africa defeat was the breaking point. Son was controversially benched by Myung-bo, the team lost, and the fallout was instant. Myung-bo was gone shortly after.
For a team that hasn't made it past the Round of 16 since their home tournament in 2002, the pattern is exhausting. South Korea's knockout stage record will weigh heavily on whatever coach walks through the door next — and it's the first thing Aguirre would need to address.
Aguirre's availability and the Saudi complication
Aguirre stepped down from the Mexico job after their Round of 16 exit — a 3-2 defeat to England — making him available. He took over El Tri after their group stage embarrassment at the 2022 World Cup and at least moved the needle, so there's a logic to South Korea chasing him.
There's a catch, though. Saudi Arabia is also in the picture. Aguirre himself acknowledged a Saudi club's interest, though he was characteristically relaxed about it: "Perhaps they took note of my performance in Mexico. But right now, I want to travel with my wife and take my granddaughters along. I'll think about my next move after that. There's no need to rush."
That kind of leverage works both ways. If Saudi money enters the conversation, South Korea's project pitch needs to be compelling beyond the paycheck. The KFA has a short window to move before this gets complicated.
Asia wouldn't be new ground for Aguirre — he managed Japan in 2014. Whether that regional familiarity gives South Korea an edge in convincing him remains the key unknown. All Futbol MX called him "a strong candidate." Strong isn't confirmed. The KFA still needs to close it.
