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.
Seoul, South Korea - In what appears to be a prelude to his departure, Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the South Korean men's national football team, extended his gratitude to his players and fans, signaling the end of his tenure. On social media, Klinsmann shared a heartfelt message thanking the team and supporters for the journey that saw the team reach the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and enjoy a 13-game unbeaten streak before their exit from the tournament.According to Yonhap News Agency, the future of Klinsmann as the head coach is hanging by a thread following a meeting between Chung Mong-gyu, the president of the Korea Football Association (KFA), and senior executives. The meeting was convened to deliberate on a recommendation from the National Team Committee to terminate Klinsmann's contract. This recommendation comes in the wake of South Korea's unexpected 2-0 defeat to Jordan in the Asian Cup, a loss that ended their bid for the first title since 1960 against a team significantly lower in the FIFA rankings.
Klinsmann, who took the helm of the South Korean team on February 27, 2023, faced early criticism for his tactical decisions and his international commitments, which kept him away from South Korea. Despite a rocky start with five winless matches, Klinsmann led the team to a strong finish in 2023, including a victory in their final tune-up match before the Asian Cup. The team's performance in the tournament was mixed, with their journey highlighted by a win against Bahrain, draws against Jordan and Malaysia, and a victory over Australia in the quarterfinals before their defeat by Jordan.
The former German national team player and coach, whose contract was set to run through the 2026 World Cup, had expressed his desire to continue with the team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March. However, the decision on his fate was expected to be announced by Chung Mong-gyu, indicating a likely end to Klinsmann's time with the South Korean national team.