S.Korea´s new coach wants ´to play like Spain´

South Korea’s new national football coach said Thursday he wants his team to play like World Cup champions Spain in a bid to go further in the 2014 event in Brazil.

Cho Kwang-Rae, 56, who was appointed Wednesday by the Korea Football Association, praised the skilful Spanish passes and quick movement between defence and attack.

“South Korean football (players) should move and run faster with short passes to narrow the gap with world-class football teams,” Cho was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying.

“I want to emulate Spain.”

The Gyeongnam FC coach was picked to replace Huh Jung-Moo, who stepped down after leading the South Koreans to the second round of the tournament — their best World Cup record on foreign soil.

Cho said he wants “to play faster and more effective football.”

“I’ve been entertaining the hope of lifting Korean football on the world stage. As the national coach, I will do my best to achieve that goal.”

Cho, who was a midfielder for the national squad in the 1970s and 1980s, said the Asian Cup starting in Qatar in January would be a good place to test his search for a new style.

His current contract is until 2012, before the qualifying rounds for the Brazil World Cup in 2014 begin.

South Korea’s next fixture is a friendly against Nigeria on August 11.