Following South Korea’s Asian Cup semi-final loss to Jordan and reports of a brawl amongst prominent players, Jurgen Klinsmann was fired as South Korea’s coach on Friday.
Having won the World Cup as a player, the 59-year-old former Germany striker was in the position for less than a year, but he never gained the support of South Korean supporters or the media.
“The KFA has decided to change the national head coach following a comprehensive review,” Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu said.
“Klinsmann has failed to display managerial capability and leadership expected of a national head coach in areas ranging from tactics and personnel management to work attitude and others required to bring about competitiveness to the team.”
Klinsmann, whose managerial record has not matched his stellar playing career, said it had been “an incredible journey” and thanked his players in a post on social media, just before the axe fell.
The KFA was under huge pressure to fire Klinsmann. Its national team committee had on Thursday said that “a change of leadership is necessary”.
The South Korean team have been in the eye of a storm.
On Wednesday came revelations about a fracas between players that left Son Heung-min with an injured finger on the eve of the 2-0 loss to Jordan in the last four in Qatar.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in subsequently issued an apology after Yonhap news agency said the 22-year-old had tried to punch skipper and Tottenham star Son.
Lee’s representatives have denied there was a punch.
