The resignation of national soccer coach Jo Bonfrere Tuesday has forced the Korea Football Association to find a replacement for the third time since the end of the 2002 World Cup.

The timing is horrendous given that most pro leagues in Europe and South America have or will soon begin their seasons and the World Cup is only ten months away.

But FootballAsia.com says the KFA will find hiring a big-name coach a little easier this time as the team has qualified for next year's World Cup.

The association is expected to contact candidates that it previously considered such as former Japan Coach Philippe Troussier, former Senegal Coach Bruno Metsu, former Ireland Coach Mick McCarthy and former Turkey Coach Senol Gunes.

The Frenchman Metsu was the favorite to replace Humberto Coehlo last year, but the KFA gave up after he made excessive salary demands.

Former Argentina Coach Marcelo Bielsa, former Germany Coach Rudi Voeller and former assistant Pim Verbeek, who served under ex-South Korea Coach Guus Hiddink, are also possible candidates.

The association is expected to snub domestic coaches for the job given their lack of overseas experience and track record.

Another option is to hire a foreign coach working in the domestic K-league. The leading candidate in that category is Scotsman Ian Porterfield, who won the K-league championship for Busan I'Park three years after taking over.

He also coached English power Chelsea and Oman, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Trinidad and Tobago.

Brazilian Sergio Ricardo de Pavia Farias improved the attack of the Pohang Steelers after just one season. He also coached the Brazilian youth team.

But the KFA will probably not hire a coach unproven in big tournaments such as continental championships or the World Cup.