Jurgen Klinsmann has been relieved of his duties as the head coach of South Korea’s national team. Klinsmann, who previously coached the United States men’s national team, is out after a disappointing outing at the 2024 Asian Cup.
Announcing the move, the Korea Football Association cited Klinsmann’s failure to “demonstrate leadership” as one of the reasons for his departure.
“Coach Klinsmann failed to demonstrate leadership that we expected from the national team coach, including game management, player management, and work attitude, which elevate the competitiveness of the national team,” said KFA’s president Chung Mong-gyu.
Klinsmann himself also confirmed the news with a post on social media.
“To all players, my coaching staff, and all Korean football fans with sincere gratitude!” he wrote on Instagram while pointing out the fact that his team was on a 13-game streak without loss before being eliminated by Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.
Klinsmann took over South Korea in February 2023 on a contract that was supposed to last through the 2026 World Cup. However, he proved to be quite an unpopular hire, with Korean media criticizing his coaching methods, lack of interest in players from the domestic K League, and questionable game tactics.
The criticism was somewhat silenced by improved performances leading to the Asian Cup, but that proved to be temporary. Despite struggling for most of the tournament, Klinsmann’s team managed to advance to the semi-finals, where Jordan exposed all of their flaws. South Korea failed to register a single shot in a 2-0 loss, renewing calls for Klinsmann’s sacking.
