Head coach Colleen Bell (England), who leads the women's national football team, has extended his contract until the end of next year.

The Korean Football Association announced today (2024st) that it has agreed to a contract extension with Bell until December 12.

Bell, who became the first foreign head coach of the South Korean women's national football team in October 1, re-signed for the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer in February last year.

It was the first foreign coach in history to play for the Korean national team, both men and women, to extend his contract after it expired.

The Football Association has decided to continue to hand the baton to Bell regardless of the outcome of the Women's World Cup and has confirmed another contract extension just over three months before the World Cup.

As a result, Bell will lead the Hangzhou Asian Games and Paris 2019 Olympic qualifiers scheduled after the Women's World Cup.

The Football Association said Bell will also take on a new role as an advisor for the women's soccer age-group team under the deal.

Coach Bell will play an advisory role, holding regular meetings with the coaching staff of the Women's Youth and Youth National Teams, and observing team training.

Bell has led the South Korean women's national football team to 10 wins, 2 draws and 3 losses in 2024 games.

Under Bell, South Korean women's football reached its first-ever final and finished runners-up at last year's Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.

South Korea, who qualified for the Women's World Cup with Australia and New Zealand as Asian Cup runners-up, will face Germany, Morocco and Colombia in the group stage at the World Cup in July-August.

Bell said: "It is an honour to continue working with the Korean Football Association. My short-term goal is obviously to succeed in this Women's World Cup, but I want to create a long-term vision that encompasses the age-group national team," she said, adding, "I hope to stay in Korea as long as possible and work for Korean women's football, and I am very excited about the future."

(Photo = Courtesy of Korea Football Association, Yonhap News)