South Korea Sacks Coach Jürgen Klinsmann Following Asian Cup Exit

Jürgen Klinsmann, the national team coach of South Korea, has been sacked by the Korea Football Association (KFA) following their disappointing exit from the Asian Cup and mounting criticism of his leadership.

The decision to dismiss Klinsmann came after the National Team Committee, an advisory body of the KFA, recommended his sacking, citing concerns about his ability to effectively lead the team. Hwangbo Kwan, the KFA's technical director, stated that there were "various reasons" that raised doubts about Klinsmann's leadership capabilities.

South Korea's elimination from the Asian Cup occurred in the semifinals, where they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Jordan. This defeat not only ended their hopes of securing a third title but also extended their 64-year-long wait for such an achievement. The disappointing performance led to calls from fans and politicians for Klinsmann's dismissal.

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KFA president Chung Mong-gyu expressed that Klinsmann's tenure fell short of expectations. He pointed out Klinsmann's failure to demonstrate the expected leadership qualities, including game and player management, as well as a suitable work attitude that would enhance the national team's competitiveness.

Klinsmann's popularity in South Korea declined during the Asian Cup, with many criticizing his demeanor, particularly his smiling, despite the team's poor performances.

Klinsmann's leadership came under scrutiny following an incident between players that resulted in captain Son Heung-Min dislocating a finger just before the semifinal match. Son played in the game with his index and middle fingers strapped together.

Throughout his tenure with South Korea, Klinsmann faced criticism for primarily working from Los Angeles, where he resides, despite his previous commitment to spending time in South Korea.

Prior to the official announcement of his departure, Klinsmann took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the players, staff, and fans for their support and the team's journey, which included an impressive unbeaten streak of 13 games leading up to the semifinals of the Asian Cup.

Hong Myung-bo

Yonhap News TV reported on Thursday that former South Korean international Hong Myung-bo is among the candidates being considered to temporarily lead the team for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Klinsmann, a World Cup winner as a player with West Germany in 1990, has previously coached the national teams of Germany and the United States, as well as Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. He took over as the South Korea coach last year following the departure of Portuguese manager Paulo Bento after their elimination from the 2022 World Cup round-of-16.

Before Klinsmann's appointment, Korean media had reported a lack of communication among members of the National Team Committee during the hiring process.

Following Klinsmann's appointment, the head of the National Team Committee, Michael Muller, refuted the reports of a lack of communication among committee members during the hiring process. Muller stated that the committee reached a "final agreement" before Klinsmann was selected as the coach.

Klinsmann faced a rough start with the South Korean national team, as they went through a five-game winless streak, including losses to Uruguay and Peru, and draws against Colombia, El Salvador, and Wales.

However, their form improved leading up to the Asian Cup, with a run of six consecutive victories. Despite some underwhelming performances in Qatar, they managed to reach the semifinals, which was an improvement from their quarterfinal exit in the previous tournament in 2019.

In the semifinals against Jordan, South Korea struggled to create any meaningful chances and failed to register a single shot on target. This disappointing performance occurred against a team ranked 64 places below them in the FIFA rankings.

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