Stick to foreign coaches, Park Ji-sung tells Koreans

SEOUL, Aug 1 (Reuters) As South Korea continues its search for a new national soccer coach, its most celebrated player Park Ji-sung says the job must go to a foreigner.

The Korean Football Association (KFA) accepted former head coach Pim Verbeek's resignation on Saturday after the Dutchman had steered the Koreans to third place in the Asian Cup.

''There is nothing wrong with a Korean coach but we lack experience in advanced European-style football so I think a foreigner as national team coach will be better for now,'' Park was quoted saying in sports daily Sports Seoul today after an interview with a local radio station.

The Manchester United midfielder also expressed regret over former head coach Pim Verbeek's resignation, saying: ''I know Verbeek is a coach who can help develop Korean football.

''No one will do a better job than him.'' The KFA said it would choose an under-23 coach and national team coach separately this time and is eyeing a Korean to head the Olympic team while the decision on a national coach would follow later in the year.

Media reports say assistant coach Hong Myung-bo and Kim Ho-kon, who led the U-23 team to the final eight in the 2004 Athens Olympics, are among the candidates for the position.

REUTERS TB PM0925