The Portuguese coach has vacated his post after Monday's defeat to Brazil.

Paulo Bento has resigned as the head coach of Korea Republic, an official report has confirmed. The 53-year-old has left his post with immediate effect following his side's Round of 16 elimination at the ongoing FIFA World Cup. 

On Monday, the Taegeuk Warriors took on Brazil at Stadium 974 in their first knockout game after remarkably securing a runners-up finish in a rather tough Group H. However, the objective to reach the quarter-finals for the first-time ever was not to be with the Selecao halting their run abruptly. First half goals from Vinicius Jr, Neymar, Lucas Paqueta and Richarlison were enough to put the game to bed before Seung-Ho Paik managed a second half consolation goal. 

Following the conclusion of the game, Paulo Bento, who had been the head coach since 2018, announced that he was stepping down. During his post-match press conference, he stated that he had told the players and the Federation about his decision.

"We just have to think about the future and it will not be with the national team of South Korea," he said.

"I have just announced to the players and to the president of the South Korean federation and this was a decision I had already taken since September that was set in stone.

"Today I have confirmed it and I have to thank them for everything they have done. They have given their very best and I have been very pleased and proud to have been their manager," Bento added.

"I'm happy with these four years of work. I want to thank them for their trust", the former Portuguese international said.

"At the moment, it's not easy to summarise everything that's happened in the World Cup, especially because it hasn't finished, I can only tell you about our journey, which has already come to an end. It has come to an end in a very fair way, we've got to congratulate Brazil because they were the better side.

"We can be proud of how we ended the game, just as we can be of the four years which have brought us here. What we did in the group stages was very good, for how we played, because we got to the last-16 for the third time in history.

"We weren't able to prepare like we wanted, and it was very difficult."

Paulo Bento departs from Korea Republic having taken charge of 57 games. In his spell, he successfully won 35 matches, drew 13 and lost only nine. With a 61 per cent win-ratio, exactly 100 goals were scored by the Taegeuk Warriors, with 46 having been conceded.