Stielike, 60, is scheduled to make his South Korean team debut in a friendly football match against Paraguay on Oct. 10.
"Our aim to raise the FIFA ranking, by earning scores step by step," he said upon arrival at Incheon International Airport from Spain, adding that to this end, he will do his best in his team debut match against Paraguay. He left for Spain earlier this month after South Korea's national team fell to Uruguay in their football friendly as he watched on from the stands. Uruguay won 1-0. South Korea will also face Costa Rica in a friendly on Oct. 14.
South Korea moved down six notches to 63rd place in the latest FIFA world rankings released on Sept. 18.
Stielike was named to coach the South Korean national team on Sept. 5.
The post of South Korean head coach was vacated by Hong Myung-bo on July 10 as he resigned in the wake of the country’s worst World Cup performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. South Korea failed to advance to the round of 16 in Brazil with a draw and two losses in Group H preliminary matches.
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
