Former Indonesia head coach Shin Tae-yong sacked after 65 days at new team

Coach Shin Tae-yong at a press conference. Photo by PSSI

Shin took over at Ulsan Hyundai in early August, with hopes of improving the team's performance. However, after eight matches, the club managed only one win, three draws and four losses, leaving them in 10th place out of 12 teams after 32 rounds. As a result, Ulsan now face a relegation playoff.

"Due to responsibility for poor performance, we have decided to terminate the contract with manager Shin," Ulsan's statement wrote, as quoted by Chosun.

Youth training director Noh Sang-rae will take over as interim coach starting from round 33 of the K-League.

Shin, 53, expressed his disappointment with the sudden decision.

"It was sudden, but I had no choice but to follow the club's decision," Shin added, "I took over at Ulsan and did my best. But there were many burdensome situations. I tried to change the team in the very difficult situation at Ulsan, but there were many difficulties. It's truly regrettable."

In addition to Shin’s departure, Ulsan CEO Kim Gwang-guk also stepped down from his position, taking responsibility for the club's poor performance, Yonhap reported.

Ulsan, champions of K League 1 for the past three seasons, struggled after former coach Hong Myung-bo left to take over the South Korea national team in July 2024. The club then hired Kim Pan-gon, the former Malaysia head coach, but his tenure was marked by disappointing results. Kim was sacked on Aug. 2, and Shin took over three days later, only to be dismissed after 65 days.

Ulsan has vowed to work closely with interim coach Noh Sang-rae and is actively seeking a long-term replacement. The club aim to avoid relegation and ensure a quick turnaround.

Shin's brief return to club management came after an eight-month hiatus following his dismissal by the Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) in 2024. His appointment at Ulsan marked the end of a 4,634-day absence from Korea's national football scene.

A former player, Shin played 405 matches for Seongnam FC, winning six K League 1 championships. He scored 102 goals and provided 69 assists, becoming the first player in K League history to reach 60 goals and 60 assists in 2003.

After retiring, Shin became Seongnam's coach from 2009 to 2012, leading the team to victory in the prestigious AFC Champions League in 2013. His K League 1 coaching record includes 58 wins, 42 draws, and 53 losses.

On the national team level, Shin managed South Korea in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2017 U20 World Cup. At the 2018 World Cup, he led South Korea to a memorable 2-0 victory over Germany in the final group stage match, although they were eliminated from the tournament.

From 2019 to 2024, Shin coached Indonesia, where he initially faced challenges from Vietnam’s dominance under Park Hang-seo. However, the policy of using naturalized players transformed Indonesian football, achieving significant milestones such as reaching the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup and the semifinals of the 2024 U23 Asian Cup.