'It was a privilege': Hong Myung-bo's assistant coach bids farewell to South Korea

João Aroso, who served as assistant coach of the South Korea national football team through the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America, posted a farewell message after his two-year contract ended.

On Wednesday, Aroso published a lengthy post on Instagram reflecting on the experience. "Winning does not mean everything is good, and losing does not mean everything is bad," he wrote. "The difference between success and failure is very fine and can come down to a few details and a little luck."

He also apologized to supporters. "I am sorry to the fans who cheered for the national team. I too feel very frustrated," Aroso wrote. "We prepared for the World Cup together as a team over the past two years, and the result is all the more disappointing because we believed we could go further."

South Korea finished the group stage with one win and two losses in Group A, ending third in the group. The team opened with a 2-1 comeback victory over the Czech Republic but fell 1-0 to both Mexico and South Africa, missing out on one of the eight third-place berths that would have advanced them to the round of 32.

Aroso reflected on the experience as a period of growth as a coach. "My time with the South Korea national team was one in which I was able to grow enormously as a coach," he wrote. "Working in an environment that demands a high level taught me a great deal."

He added that while there were difficult moments in managing the squad, "the time spent on the pitch, devoted to coaching the players I love most, was a continuous series of wonderful moments."

Aroso also expressed gratitude to those who brought him on board. "I would like to thank the Korea Football Association and coach Hong Myung-bo for appointing me," he wrote. "I also sincerely thank all the staff who welcomed me warmly and helped me adapt to a new culture."

Aroso joined the coaching staff shortly after Hong was appointed in July 2024, serving as both assistant coach and tactical coach. Based in Europe, he was responsible for scouting tactics and monitoring younger players for the national team.

He began his coaching career at Sporting CP in Portugal and worked as a coach with the Portuguese national team alongside head coach Paulo Bento from 2010, spending eight years with Bento across Sporting and the national team.

Closing his post, Aroso praised South Korea's resilience. "Korea is a country with remarkable strength," he wrote, noting that a nation that was among the world's poorest at the end of the Korean War in 1953 had grown into a global economic powerhouse through the determination of its people. "Living and working in Korea was a privilege," he added.