South Korea sacks national soccer coach Klinsmann
Jurgen Klinsmann has been fired as head coach of the South Korean national team after an Asian Cup semifinal exit and reports of infighting among star players, ending a turbulent 12 months for the German coach.
The Korean Football Association (KFA) made the announcement on Friday.
Klinsmann was already under heavy criticism after South Korea’s upset 2-0 semifinal loss to Jordan last week and pressure intensified following media reports of a spat between captain Son Heung-min and young star Lee Kang-in during the tournament.
On Thursday at an Asian Cup campaign review at KFA headquarters in Seoul, the eight-member National Team Committee talked to Klinsmann via video conference from his home in the United States, before reaching its findings.
“For a number of reasons, we concluded that Klinsmann would no longer be able to show his leadership as head coach of the national team,” the KFA’S technical director Hwangbo Kwan said. “We will report our conclusion to the KFA.”
The final decision was made by KFA chairman Chung Mong-gyu.
“After a comprehensive review, the KFA has decided to change the head coach,” Chung told media in Seoul on Friday. “When it comes to bringing out the best in the national team, managing players and his work habits, Klinsmann did not live up to our expectations of a national team head coach, nor did he demonstrate leadership.
“We decided that Klinsmann was unlikely to improve as head coach, in terms of his abilities and work ethic.”
Hwangbo added during the video meeting that Klinsmann, who had refused to stand down ahead of World Cup qualifying games next month, had said that the infighting affected the performance of the players against Jordan.
Klinsmann has been unpopular with fans for refusing to base himself in South Korea, in contrast to previous foreign coaches.