South Korea sacks coach Klinsmann.

The Korean Football Association (KFA) has dismissed head coach Jurgen Klinsmann following a meeting of its executive committee this morning, February 16th.

After a two-hour meeting, the KFA Executive Committee, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, unanimously agreed to dismiss coach Klinsmann. The KFA informed the German coach of the decision by phone, as he was in the United States at the time.

According to KFA President Chung Mong-gyu, coach Klinsmann failed to create competition within the team and did not demonstrate the leadership abilities expected. "We believe that these issues are unlikely to improve in the future with Klinsmann," Chung said at a press conference. "I apologize for causing so much disappointment to the fans and accept the criticism."

Coach Klinsmann speaks with captain Son Heung-min after the defeat to Jordan in the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup. Photo: AFP

Klinsmann led the South Korean national team under a contract from March 2023 to July 2026. According to Dong-a , due to his early dismissal, the KFA (Korea Football Association) had to compensate the German coach approximately 7 billion won, equivalent to 5.3 million USD. In addition, compensation for other members of the coaching staff amounted to around 10 billion won.

Coach Klinsmann was tasked with leading South Korea to win the 2023 Asian Cup and qualify for their 11th consecutive World Cup in 2026. However, South Korea was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup after losing 0-2 to Jordan. Klinsmann was criticized for his weak tactics and ineffective substitutions, as well as his inability to manage his players, leading to a scuffle between two of the team's biggest stars, Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in, at dinner the day before the semi-final match.

Not only did he fail in the Asian Cup, but Coach Klinsmann also lost points for his attitude, frequently working from abroad instead of being present in South Korea. The anger of South Korean fans reached its peak when he smiled after the defeat against Jordan, or when answering questions from the press at Incheon Airport, South Korea.

On Twitter , coach Klinsmann posted a photo with the South Korean team along with the caption: "I sincerely thank all the players, coaching staff, and South Korean football fans. Thank you all for supporting us to reach the Asian Cup semi-finals. It was an incredible journey, with 13 unbeaten matches in the 12 months leading up to the semi-finals. Let's keep fighting."

Son Heung-min (right) failed to win the Asian Cup after four appearances. Photo: Yonhap

The KFA will expedite the selection process for a new head coach as the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is set to take place at the end of March 2024, where South Korea will play two matches against Thailand.

Klinsmann is the ninth foreign coach in the history of the South Korean national team, following Russian coach Anatoliy Byshovets from 1994 to 1995. Before Klinsmann, former Portugal coach Paulo Bento led the team from 2018 and left after reaching the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup. The most memorable foreign coach in South Korea is Guus Hiddink, with his achievement of finishing fourth at the 2002 World Cup.

Klinsmann, born in 1964, is a legendary German striker who scored 47 goals in 108 appearances for the national team, winning the 1990 World Cup and Euro 1996. His club career included many prestigious clubs such as Stuttgart, Inter Milan, Tottenham, and Bayern Munich, scoring 232 goals in 514 matches.

Klinsmann is considered the driving force behind the reform of the German national team after their failure at Euro 2004. He was appointed head coach and, along with his assistant Joachim Low, transformed Germany from a team that played defensively to one that played attacking and entertaining football. At the 2006 World Cup, he led the host nation to a third-place finish.

Klinsmann then managed Bayern Munich in the 2008-2009 season but without success. In 2011, he became head coach of the US national team, with his best achievement being reaching the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup before losing 1-2 to Belgium after 120 minutes. In the 2019-2020 season, Klinsmann managed Hertha BSC, but resigned after only 10 weeks.

Hieu Luong

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