Report: Cho Kwang-rae fired as South Korea coach

South Korea's state television network says Cho Kwang-rae has been fired as coach of the national football team.

Cho was appointed in July 2010 and led the team to third place at the 2011 Asian Cup but has been under pressure since last month's shock 2-1 defeat in Lebanon in a 2014 World Cup qualifier.

KBS made the announcement on Tuesday and says the Korean Football Association has already identified three possible candidates to replace him: Afshin Ghotbi, Choi Kang-hee and Hong Myong-bo.

Ghotbi is a former assistant with the national team and currently head coach of Japanese club Shimizu S-Pulse, Choi has just led Jeonbuk Motors to a second K League title, while Hong was the 2002 World Cup captain and is now Olympic team coach.