Ulsan HD FC announced Thursday they have terminated their contract with head coach Hong Myung-bo by mutual consent, with Hong having recently been named the manager for the South Korean men's national team. Ulsan, two-time defending K League 1 champions, said senior assistant coach Lee Kyung-soo will serve as caretaker manager. The Korea Football Association (KFA) named Hong as the new men's national team head coach Sunday. Hong was on Ulsan's bench Wednesday for their 1-0 loss to Gwangju FC but won't be around for the club's next match, on Saturday against FC Seoul. With the national team not playing until September in the World Cup qualifying tournament, Hong had been expected to stay with Ulsan for this week before grabbing the national team reins. However, Hong has faced scathing criticism from Ulsan supporters for reneging on his earlier promise that he would not take the national team job and leave Ulsan midseason. For Wednesday's match, angry fans hung banners taking shots at Hong, including one r eferring to Hong as "The Worst Coach We've Seen." After the match, dozens of fans chanted, "Hong Myung-bo, get out!" Hong apologized to those fans and said he understood their wrath. Hong was named Ulsan's head coach in December 2020. They finished as the runners-up in 2021 but then won their first title in 17 years in 2022. They defended their crown in 2023, the first time Ulsan had won consecutive league championships. Ulsan dropped to third place after Wednesday's loss, though they are only two points behind the leaders, Pohang Steelers, with 39 points. There are 16 matches left this season. Source: Yonhap News Agency
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