The Korea FA appointed KIM PAN-GON to handle national team coach hirings. The former Hong Kong national team manager will lead the "newly created national football team coach appointment committee." Kim will be responsible for hiring coaches for the South Korean senior national team and the U23 side. His first job will be "finding a tactician" for the South Korean Olympic football team for the Tokyo 2020 Games (YONHAP, 12/26). ... Premiership Rugby side Worcester Warriors announced ALAN SOLOMONS signed a contract to become the club's permanent director of rugby. The 67-year-old agreed to a two-and-a-half year deal to take over from GARY GOLD, who will leave the club at the end of December (Worcester Warriors). ... DAVOR ŠUKER was re-elected as president of the Croatian Football Federation (HNS). Šuker, who will turn 50 on Monday, won his latest mandate at the Croatian association's extraordinary assembly (UEFA).
COACHES/MANAGERS: Veteran coach FATIH TERIM "took the reins" at Turkish side Galatasaray for a fourth time on Friday, days after the 20-time Turkish champion parted ways with Croatian IGOR TUDOR. Terim, 64, has had "three spells in charge of both Galatasaray and the national team." He left his job as Turkey coach in July "after being involved in a brawl in a west coast resort town" (REUTERS, 12/21). ... La Liga side Sevilla sacked head coach EDUARDO BERIZZO "a week after he returned from cancer surgery." The Argentine, 48, "took charge of the 0-0 draw with Levante" on Dec. 15 following a successful prostate operation in November (BBC, 12/22). ... League Championship side Middlesbrough appointed former EPL club West Bromwich Albion boss TONY PULIS as its manager to succeed GARRY MONK, who left the club on Saturday after a 2-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday left it in ninth place. Middlesbrough has not disclosed the length of Pulis' contract (BBC, 12/26). ... Ligue 1 side Lille announced CHRISTOPHE GALTIER as its new manager. The 51-year-old, who is a former Lille player, will take over the side on Friday (Lille). ... DICK ADVOCAAT "is making a sentimental return to his former club," Sparta Rotterdam, as it battles against relegation from the Dutch top flight. Advocaat, who stepped down as the Netherlands coach last month, signed a contract on Monday to "take over until the end of the season at Sparta," which is tied for last place in the standings (REUTERS, 12/25). ... CARLOS CARVALHAL said that "the time was right to leave" Sheffield Wednesday after his two-and-a-half-year stint came to an end on Sunday. The Portuguese, who guided the club to the playoffs in his first two seasons at the helm, left the club "by mutual consent" after a seven-game winless run (PA, 12/24).
