German tactician fired by South Korea after barely a year in position

After barely a year in the position, Jurgen Klinsmann was fired as South Korea’s head coach, according to a report from bbc.com. The 59-year-old German’s deal with the team expires at the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup was signed in February of last year. However, South Korea’s 64-year wait for the championship was extended when they were defeated in the Asian Cup semi-finals earlier this month.

Additionally, there had been rumours of rivalry among elite athletes. According to reports, South Korea’s captain Son Heung-min hurt his finger in a brawl with teammates just before their unexpected 2-0 loss to Jordan last week.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) claims that the event happened at a team supper. After the defeat to Jordan, who are ranked 87th in the world, 64 spots lower than South Korea, Klinsmann said he had no intention of leaving the position.

Football authorities, however, said on Thursday that the former Tottenham striker and Germany World Cup champion had run out of time to make things right. “We’ve reached a consensus that Klinsmann cannot exercise his leadership as national team head coach for various reasons and that a change of leadership is necessary,” Hwangbo Kwan of the Korean Football Association stated.

Since assuming the position, Klinsmann has not been well-liked by the Korean supporters due to his short stay in South Korea, having chosen to stay in California. Compared to previous foreign managers who were all stationed in the nation’s capital, a Seoul publication estimated that Klinsmann had only spent 67 days in the nation during his first six months on the job.

Related Sport News

• KFA Fires Head Coach of the National Team Klinsmann Amid Leadership Scandal
• With Jason Wilcox’s pursuit, Manchester United is delivering Man City the ultimate courtesy
• PSG hopes to raise £112 million to replace Kylian Mbappe with Chelsea target
• Crystal Palace ‘appointed’ Glasner and ‘fired’ Hodgson after the veteran is ‘taken ill’. £4 million manager “accepts” contract
  

He guided the United States to the 2014 World Cup quarterfinals and Germany to the third place in the 2006 World Cup. Prior to South Korea, he worked with Hertha BSC in the Bundesliga for ten weeks in 2004.

Though they were one of the favourites to win the Asian Cup, South Korea’s talented team—which included players like Son, Hwang Hee-chan of Wolves, and Lee Kang-in of Paris St. Germain—failed to exhibit any true inventiveness during the competition.

They were ninety seconds away from elimination in the second round when they equalised with Saudi Arabia in the 99th minute and prevailed in a penalty shootout. They had only won one match in regular time.

They tied the match against Australia in the 96th minute of the quarterfinal, but Tottenham’s Son sealed their place in the round of four with an incredible free-kick in extra time.

But in the semi-final, they failed to score a single goal and were shockingly surpassed by the underdog Jordan, who lost to the hosts Qatar in the final.