Interim South Korea Coach Moreno Denies Using AI to Prepare for Games While Naming First Roster

CHEONAN, South Korea (AP) — Interim South Korea coach Robert Moreno denied using artificial intelligence in past jobs to prepare for games as he named his first roster on Monday.

Moreno was appointed in August on a contract that runs to the end of November. He succeeds Hong Myung-bo, who resigned after a disappointing World Cup in which South Korea was eliminated at the group stage.

Moreno, who took charge of Spain for nine games in 2009, was fired by Sochi FC in September 2025 after a run of poor results with the Russian club accusing him of relying on AI.

"If you verify facts, you will see that much of what was reported was taken out of context and blown out of proportion," Moreno said at a news conference in the city of Cheonan, said. "Obviously I use technology…those reports are not true."

The first of Moreno's six games in charge is Sept. 24 against Ecuador with Son Heung-min continuing as South Korea's captain.

"We're all aware of Son's versatility," Moreno said of the 34 year-old LAFC forward. "For me he can play in three positions."

Moreno is tasked with restoring the public's faith in the national team. Disquiet around Hong's appointment in 2024 turned to anger after the poor performances at the World Cup.

Hong was grilled by lawmakers at a parliamentary hearing in July along with Chung Mong-gyu, the former head of the Korea Football Association, whose offices were raided by police in August. The KFA apologized after a leaked government audit reported that the organization had provided "sexual entertainment" for foreign referees in 2011 and 2012.

"I have studied World Cup matches and players inside out but I think it is inappropriate to publicly evaluate my predecessor," Moreno said. "It is important to use whatever happened in the past as a learning opportunity. What is clear is that when you lose, many problems surface. But when you win, they fade away."

South Korea will also face Uruguay, Venezuela, Uzbekistan and two yet to be named opponents as part of preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup, which begins in January in Saudi Arabia.