South Korea name Hong as new coach

South Korea's Hong Myung-Bo looks on before their men's Group B football match against Mexico at the London 2012 Olympic Games at St James' Park in London July 26, 2012. REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea have named former skipper Hong Myung-bo as the new head coach of the national team, the Korean Football Association announced on Monday.

Hong, who captained the Koreans to fourth place at the 2002 World Cup on home soil, takes over from Choi Kang-hee, who stepped down last week after guiding South Korea to their eighth consecutive World Cup finals appearance.