Kim Pan-gon quits Malaysia national team, reportedly set to join Ulsan HD

Last week, a long-haired 55-year-old manager left Ulsan HD to take the helm of a national team. This week, a long-haired 55-year-old manager looks set to leave a national team to take the helm of Ulsan HD.

Kim Pan-gon, left, and Hong Myung-bo [YONHAP; NEWS1]

Last week, a long-haired 55-year-old manager left Ulsan HD to take the helm of a national team. This week, a long-haired 55-year-old manager looks set to leave a national team to take the helm of Ulsan HD.

At least Ulsan have traded in for a longer-haired model.

Korean media reported Tuesday that Malaysian national team manager Kim Pan-gon would step down and return to Korea to take over at Ulsan, where the post was vacated less than a week ago by new Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo.

Kim held a press conference on Tuesday and resigned from the national team "for personal reasons," according to Malaysian media reports. As of press time Tuesday, Ulsan HD had yet to confirm whether Kim would take the helm at the club.

Kim has managed Malaysia since the start of 2022, famously earning the country their first Asian Cup point since 1980 by holding his native Korea to a 3-3 draw at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup earlier this year.

Prior to taking that role, Kim spent five years at the Korea Football Association where he served as both vice president, head of the reinforcement committee and technical director. In that role he served alongside Hong, who was general secretary of the KFA, and the pair were directly involved in the appointment of former Korean national team manager Paulo Bento.

Kim previously managed the Hong Kong national team, 2009 to 2010 and 2012 to 2017, as well as assistant manager spells with Gyeongnam FC and Busan IPark.

Before his coaching career, Kim played as a winger for both Ulsan HD, then Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, then Jeonbuk Hyundai Dinos. He finished his playing career in Hong Kong with local sides Double Flower and Buler Rangers, where he also started his coaching career.

While at Ulsan, Kim would have regularly faced Hong, playing defense for the Pohang Steelers.

Update, July 16: This story was updated to confirm that Kim had already held a press conference and resigned as Malaysian national team manager.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]