OFFICIAL: Klinsmann SACKED as South Korea coach after only 12 months in charge

  /  autty

Jurgen Klinsmann has been sacked as South Korea head coach after only 12 months in the role, following their shock Asian Cup semi-final defeat to Jordan.

The German was appointed in February on a deal that ran until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

However, amid reports of in-fighting in the camp ahead of their defeat to Jordan earlier this month, which prolonged the nation's 64-year draught in the competition, the former Tottenham striker has been relieved of his duties.

Hwang Bo-kwan, the technical director of the Korea Football Association (KFA) spoke to reporters after a meeting of an advisory committee on Thursday and advised that the German should no longer continue in the role.

He said: '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.

On the eve of their loss to the side ranked 64 places below them in the world, captain Son Heung-min dislocated a finger after an altercation with a team-mate.

A quarrel flared up between Son and team-mates while they were eating before the game against Jordan, which they lost 2-0 on February 6.

Reports claimed that a number of young players in the squad had rushed eating their meal so they could dash off and play table tennis which infuriated Son, with the situation further escalating from there.

However, more details have since emerged on what exactly transpired that night which saw the South Korea and Spurs captain walk away with a nasty finger injury.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency first reported that Son initially tried to talk to the younger players – including PSG starlet Lee Kang-in – about bonding with their team-mates instead of rushing off to play table tennis.

The incident then turned physical when they refused to listen to their skipper, which saw a furious Son grab Lee. In a moment of madness, the PSG forward tried to punch Son in retaliation before the two players had to be pulled apart.

During the fracas, Son dislocated his finger on his right hand and was seen sporting a bandage the next day for the match.

Klinsmann's popularity plummeted during the tournament, with many fans and some politicians criticising the 59-year-old's demeanour.

Klinsmann also faced repeated backlash for working from his home in Los Angeles, despite saying he would spend much of his time in South Korea - a move which was seen as 'disrespectful' by insiders.

He won the 1990 World Cup as a player, before becoming a manager of the Germany and USA national sides, as well as Bundesliga titans Bayern Munich.

After Klinsmann's takeover last year, South Korea failed to win any of his first five games in charge, with two defeats and three draws, but they did pick up six consecutive wins heading into the Asian Cup.

Hong Myung-bo, a former sweeper for the national side, is reportedly among the names being considered as a temporary replacement if Klinsmann is dismissed.

Related: South Korea Jürgen Klinsmann
Hot comments
Download All Football for more comments