SOUTH KOREA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: GUUS HIDDINK ,THE DUTCH COACH OF THE SOUTH KOREAN SOCCER TEAM HAS ACHIEVED CELEBRITY STATUS

Record ID: 916303

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: GUUS HIDDINK ,THE DUTCH COACH OF THE SOUTH KOREAN SOCCER TEAM HAS ACHIEVED CELEBRITY STATUS
  • Date: 17th June 2002
  • Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JUNE 17, 2002) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF FAN DOWNLOADING ANIMATED CARICULTURE OF HIDDINK ON MOBILE PHONE SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SHOP WITH HIDDINK CHARACTER MERCHANDISE (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SHOP KEEPER LEE KYEONG-SOO SAYING: "Before (the World Cup soccer finals kicked off), the miniatures of the entry members, you know, the best 11,
  • Embargoed: 6th July 2005 21:13
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SEOUL AND PAJU, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVAB53YPOHWGPKZIADWZVSXFP1VK
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Guus Hiddink, a down-to-earth Dutchman who began his coaching career helping handicapped people to play sport, has taken on celebrity status in South Korea as they prepare for their historic final 16 World Cup match against Italy.
    55-year-old Hiddink's is the most famous foreigner in South Korea, when he took over the national squad 18 months ago the team was in tatters, few expected the success he has brought.
    In an homage to the man who has nothing short of cult status here his emotional gestures from the touchline are now copied throughout the country whenever South Korea play a match.
    But it doesn't stop there for fans of the Dutchman, marketeers have produced books on his leadership style, watches, clocks with his face on, figureens and even an animated download for mobile phones.
    As the Korean squad began their preparations for their historic clash with Italy on Tuesday (June 18) Hiddink had cause to reflect on an astonishing period.
    The former Dutch national team coach has transformed the football of a country which had never won a game in five previous appearances at the World Cup in 1954, 1986, 1990, 1994 and 1998.
    Friday's 1-0 defeat of pre-tournament group D favourites Portugal was the country's second victory after they beat Poland 2-0 in their opening game on June 4.
    "It has done a lot for the people of Korea. It gives me a lot of satisfaction and I'm glad I can help the Korean people be happy with their victories," Hiddink said.
    "I think the team is growing and growing every game. I'm sometimes surprised myself. They can cope with very, very high expectations from everyone in the country." Friday's victory was important to the Korean nation since Hiddink's side were able to match the performance of co-hosts Japan, their fierce rivals who will also make their second-round debut against Turkey.
    Since taking over at the start of 2001, former PSV Eindhoven coach Hiddink, known as a strict taskmaster with his players, has transformed the way the team is run and experimented with an array of new players. It has clearly paid off.
    The Dutchman, who guided the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the 1998 World Cup in France, said Korea had improved beyond all recognition in the past six months.
    "It came from almost nothing, half a year ago many people did not have much confidence in the team," he said. "I must give credit to the players. They are very open and have the ability to learn fast." The only time Italy have played South Korea in the World Cup was in the first round of the 1986 finals in Mexico when the Italians won 3-2. They now meet in Taejon.
    Hiddink is best remembered in club football for guiding PSV to their European Cup triumph in 1988 when his side also did the Dutch league and Cup double.
    At the last World Cup his Dutch team, who have failed to qualify this time, thrashed the Koreans 5-0 in the first round.
    Now Hiddink is one of the most famous figures in a country gripped by the World Cup.
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