News: Jeju SK appoint Sergio Costa as new head coach | OneFootball

Jeju SK have appointed former assistant to Paulo Bento, Sergio Costa, as the club’s new head coach.(Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Set to take charge from the 2026 season, Sergio Costa is a familiar name to Korean football fans. He formed a strong connection with the Korea Republic national team as part of head coach Paulo Bento’s staff at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. At the time, Costa served as first assistant coach and was regarded as the tactical mastermind of the Bento camp. Notably, ahead of Korea’s final Group H match against Portugal, Bento was suspended following his dismissal in the previous match against Ghana. Costa stepped in to lead the team, guiding Korea to a dramatic 2–1 victory and qualification for the Round of 16.

Costa said, “My life in Korea, which began in 2018, was truly wonderful. After leaving Korea, I missed everything—the people, the lifestyle, and the food. Even my family told me they wanted to return to Korea. Above all, I received such passionate love from Korean fans. I sincerely thank Jeju SK for giving me the opportunity to return to Korea and repay that love on the K League stage. It is a great honour to take on my first head coaching challenge together with everyone at Jeju SK. I also know how difficult the 2025 season was for the club, which makes my sense of responsibility and motivation stronger than ever. I will give my absolute best in leading Jeju SK.”

Often described as “the strategist of the Bento staff,” Costa brings extensive international experience. His career includes roles as scout and performance analyst at Sporting CP (Portugal, 2007–2010); assistant coach and performance analyst with the Portugal national team (2016); assistant coach at Cruzeiro EC (Brazil, 2016); assistant coach at Olympiacos FC (Greece, 2016–2017); assistant coach at Chongqing Dangdai Lifan (China, 2018); assistant coach of the Korea Republic national team (2018–2022); and, most recently, assistant coach of the United Arab Emirates national team, a position he held until March this year. His depth of experience and proven capabilities compare favourably with any coach at this level.

Costa also possesses a strong understanding of Korean players and the K League. During his tenure with the national team, he personally attended K League matches alongside Bento, closely analysing player movement and performance. True to his background as a performance analyst, he independently compiled video clips and data for key situations, naturally developing a comprehensive understanding of the league as a whole. Combined with the advanced footballing systems, philosophy, and expertise developed alongside Bento, Costa is seen as the ideal figure to lead change and innovation as Jeju SK aim for a new leap forward in the 2026 season.

Jeju SK also view Costa’s appointment as an opportunity to rekindle the success of past foreign head coaches. He becomes the club’s first foreign head coach since Valery Nepomnyashchy (Russia), who led Yukong Elephants / Bucheon SK from 1995 to 1998 and sparked the famed “Nipo Football” phenomenon. In addition, Jeju SK have previously appointed foreign managers such as Tınaz Tırpan (7th head coach, Turkey, 2002–2003) and Arthur Bernardes (10th head coach, Brazil, 2008–2009). Drawing on the experience and know-how gained from those appointments, the club plans to maximise synergy once again.

Upon his arrival in Korea, Costa will quickly begin reorganising the Jeju SK squad following a turbulent year. Emphasising the importance of communication at all levels, he will meet with the media on Monday, December 29, to listen to various perspectives and share his vision. During this session, he will outline a master plan and strategic roadmap for Jeju SK, as well as deliver a special message reflecting his deep affection for Korea, developed over four years and four months as assistant coach of the national team up to the 2022 World Cup.