1. Overview
Lee Tae-hoon (이태훈I TaehunKorean), born on June 7, 1971, is a South Korean professional football manager. His career has significantly contributed to football development in Southeast Asia, particularly in Cambodia and Vietnam. He is recognized for his two tenures as head coach of the Cambodia national football team, where he achieved the nation's first-ever advancement to the second round of FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers. Beyond national teams, Lee has been involved in youth football development in Cambodia and held various coaching and technical director roles in Vietnamese and Cambodian club football, underscoring his commitment to fostering sports growth and community engagement in the region.
2. Early Life and Background
2.1. Birth and Nationality
Lee Tae-hoon was born on June 7, 1971. He holds South Korean nationality.
3. Managerial Career
Lee Tae-hoon's managerial career spans various roles across national teams and club football in Southeast Asia, demonstrating his commitment to developing the sport in the region.
3.1. Cambodia National Football Team
Lee Tae-hoon had two distinct tenures as the head coach of the Cambodia national football team. His first period was from October 2010 to June 2012. During this time, the team participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian First Round Qualifiers, where they were eliminated after a 6-8 aggregate loss to the Laos national team.
He was reappointed as head coach in July 2013 and served until 2017. This second tenure saw a significant milestone for Cambodian football: Lee led the team to their first-ever advancement to the second round of the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers. This historic achievement was secured by defeating the Macau national team with an aggregate score of 4-1 in the first round of the qualifiers. Overall, during his time with the national team, from August 2010 to March 2017, Lee Tae-hoon managed a total of 45 matches, achieving a record of 16 wins, 4 draws, and 24 losses. This performance is notably considered the best record among all coaches for the Cambodia national team.
3.2. Cambodia Youth Football
In addition to his work with the senior national team, Lee Tae-hoon has also been actively involved in the development of young talent in Cambodia. Since July 2013, he has served as the head coach for the Cambodia U-15 team, contributing to the foundational growth of football players in the country.
3.3. Vietnamese Club Management
In 2018, Lee Tae-hoon transitioned to club football in Vietnam, joining Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), a prominent club in Vietnam's top-tier league, V.League 1, as their Technical Director. In this role, he applied his extensive expertise, gained from his experience with the Cambodian national team, to significantly contribute to HAGL's overall football development, player management strategies, and the nurturing of young talents within the club's system.
On April 21, 2019, Lee Tae-hoon was officially appointed head coach of HAGL, taking over after the previous coach was dismissed due to unsatisfactory performance. He led the team until 2020. However, he was later demoted back to a Technical Advisor role by the club owner, which ultimately led to his resignation from the club. Despite an offer for re-engagement as head coach after the team suffered six consecutive losses, Lee declined the offer and subsequently returned to Cambodia.
3.4. Cambodian Club Management
Following his departure from Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Lee Tae-hoon returned to Cambodian club football. In 2021, he was appointed General Manager of National Defense Ministry FC in the Cambodia Premier League, continuing his involvement in the development and management of football at the club level in Cambodia.
4. Major Achievements
4.1. World Cup Qualification Advancement
Lee Tae-hoon's most significant achievement in his coaching career is leading the Cambodia national football team to their first-ever advancement to the second round of the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers. This historic milestone for Cambodian football was secured during his second tenure as head coach, when the team defeated the Macau national team with an aggregate score of 4-1 in the first round of the qualifiers. This achievement marked a pivotal moment for Cambodian football, demonstrating significant progress on the international stage under his guidance.