Seoul, South Korea – Chung Mong-gyu, the embattled president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), announced on Friday his decision not to resign despite the national team's underwhelming performance at the recent Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup. Amidst calls for his departure, Chung has also indicated his intention to seek a fourth term in office.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to retain Chung comes in the wake of South Korea's disappointing exit from the Asian Cup, following a 2-0 defeat to Jordan in the semifinals. The announcement was made after a critical meeting at KFA House in Seoul, where Chung also revealed the termination of Jurgen Klinsmann as the men's national team head coach.
Chung's tenure, which began in January 2013, has been marked by controversy, especially regarding Klinsmann's appointment despite his controversial coaching history. The KFA's decision to dismiss Klinsmann was influenced by a variety of factors, including inadequate tactical preparation and management issues within the team.
Facing criticism for South Korea's prolonged 64-year title drought in the Asian Cup, Chung has refrained from stepping down. Instead, he has proposed further analysis and measures to address the national team's challenges, expressing his readiness to accept criticism and apologize to fans.
Chung's future as KFA president became a topic of speculation when he mentioned the unsuccessful attempt to amend the KFA's articles of association in 2018, which would have limited the presidency to three terms. This move, not approved by the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee or the sports ministry, hints at Chung's potential candidacy in the January 2025 KFA presidential election, fueling rumors of his aim for a fourth term.
SEOUL - Jurgen Klinsmann was relieved of his duties as the head coach of the South Korean men's national football team on Friday, following the team's unexpected exit from the premier Asian tournament. According to the Korea Football Association (KFA), the decision to terminate Klinsmann's contract was conveyed to him after a detailed 2.5-hour deliberation involving KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and other top executives.According to Yonhap News Agency, Klinsmann, who had expressed his gratitude to his players via an Instagram post shortly after 1 p.m., finds his tenure ending amidst growing criticism. Chung is slated to further elaborate on this decision during a press conference scheduled for 2:40 p.m. at the KFA House.
This development follows South Korea's 2-0 defeat to Jordan in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup held in Qatar on February 6, a match that Chung Mong-gyu attended. This loss, particularly stark as Jordan was ranked 64 places lower, dashed South Korea's hopes of clinching their first AFC title since 1960. The absence of any shots on goal during this critical game amplified the disappointment surrounding the team's performance.
Despite having a roster that includes notable players such as Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min, Paris Saint-Germain's midfielder Lee Kang-in, and Bayern Munich's defender Kim Min-jae, Klinsmann faced pressure to resign for not leading this talented group to victory. However, he had previously indicated a desire to remain in the role to analyze the team's performance at the Asian Cup with the KFA and prepare for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches in March.
Under Klinsmann's leadership, South Korea's record stood at eight wins, six draws, and three losses. Noteworthy was the team's advancement past Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 at the Asian Cup, a match that ended in a 4-2 victory for South Korea in penalties, officially recorded as a draw.