South Korea Fires Jurgen Klinsmann as Manager After One Year
In a shocking move, South Korea has decided to part ways with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann after just one year in charge. The 59-year-old German, who was appointed in February last year, had his contract set to last until the end of the 2026 World Cup. However, the team’s disappointing performance at the recent Asian Cup, where they were beaten in the semi-finals, proved to be the final straw for Klinsmann.
Reports of in-fighting among the top players also contributed to the decision. South Korea captain Son Heung-min reportedly injured his finger during a dispute with his teammates before their unexpected 2-0 defeat by Jordan. The incident occurred during a team dinner, according to the Korea Football Association (KFA). These internal issues only added to the mounting pressure on Klinsmann.
Following the loss to Jordan, who are ranked 64 places below South Korea at 87th in the world, Klinsmann initially expressed no intentions of resigning. However, on Thursday, football officials announced that they believed a change in leadership was necessary. Hwangbo Kwan of the KFA stated, “We’ve reached a consensus that Klinsmann cannot exercise his leadership as the national team head coach for various reasons.”
Klinsmann’s lack of presence in South Korea has been a major point of contention among fans. Since taking over, he has preferred to remain based in California rather than spending significant time in the country. A Seoul newspaper even calculated that in his first six months on the job, Klinsmann only spent 67 days in South Korea. This stark contrast to past foreign coaches who were based in the capital city has fueled criticism and made him an unpopular figure among supporters.
Although Klinsmann had achieved success in previous coaching roles, leading Germany to third place at the 2006 World Cup and the United States to the knockout stages of the 2014 tournament, his time at South Korea was less impactful. Before taking over the national team, Klinsmann had a short stint at Bundesliga side Hertha BSC four years ago.
South Korea’s star-studded side, including Son, Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan, and Paris St-Germain’s Lee Kang-in, entered the Asian Cup as one of the favorites to lift the trophy. However, they failed to display any real creative spark throughout the tournament. They only managed to win one match in normal time and narrowly escaped elimination in the second round with a last-minute equalizer against Saudi Arabia. They eventually reached the semi-finals but were outclassed by underdogs Jordan, who were beaten in the final by hosts Qatar.
The decision to dismiss Klinsmann as head coach reflects South Korea’s disappointment with their performance in recent competitions. The country continues to wait for a major title, with their last triumph coming 64 years ago. The search for a new leader who can guide the national team to success will now begin, and fans will eagerly anticipate a fresh start and renewed hope for South Korean football.