Jurgen Klinsmann fired as manager of Korean men's national football team

Jurgen Klinsmann arrives at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Feb. 8. [AFP/YONHAP]

Jurgen Klinsmann has been dismissed as manager of the Korean men’s national football team.

Korea Football Association Chairman Chung Mong-gyu announced Friday in a press conference that Klinsmann would be replaced.

"Klinsmann did not show leadership or any ability that we expect from the Korean national team manager when it came to bringing competitiveness out of the national team, player management or work attitude," Chung said.

Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, attends an executive meeting to discuss the national team and manager Jurgen Klinsmann's spot at its helm at the KFA House in Jongno District, central Seoul on Friday. [NEWS1]

Klinsmann's firing comes a day after members of the KFA National Team Committee recommended Klinsmann be removed from the top job, citing his lack of tactical management and his refusal to live in Korea among other reasons.

The Korean national team earlier this month had a disappointing 2-0 semifinal exit to Jordan, who sit some 50 spots below them on the FIFA world ranking system, during the Asian Cup.

Chung also indirectly addressed an alleged altercation involving Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min and Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in that took place the night before the Jordan semifinal, seeming to shift some of the blame for the discord onto issues with management.

“[T]here was recently an internal problem from the national team squad that disappointed fans. Although it happened in a situation where players became sensitive and tired after playing physically and mentally tough games together for over a month, we think that there are some aspects worth seriously looking into for team management in the future," Chung said. "We will overhaul coaching staff formation or player management systems in order to prevent similar situations from recurring."

The KFA notified Klinsmann of his removal Friday, according to JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily.

Klinsmann wrote in an Instagram post an hour before the KFA announcement: "To all players, my coaching staff and all Korean football fans with sincere gratitude! Thank you so much for all your support taking us to the semi-final of the Asian Cup and an incredible journey over the last 12 months with not losing 13 games in a row before the semi-final!"

The final decision to remove him fell with KFA Chairman Chung, who attended an executive meeting earlier Friday to discuss Klinsmann’s fate at the national team.

Chung has also faced growing calls to resign from his spot at the KFA helm. A Korean nonprofit last week sued Chung for allegedly overstepping his authority in making hiring decisions at the team, claiming Chung unilaterally appointed Klinsmann as national team manager and set the terms of his contract — which it claims constituted illegally interfering with the operations of the KFA.

“In regards to terminating the contract with manager [Klinsmann], we have to discuss it with a lawyer. If there is any financial burden, I will consider what I could do as a chairman,” Chung said on Friday.

Korean football fans had long protested Klinsmann's post at the helm of the national team since he was appointed last February. His contract was set to run through the end of the 2026 World Cup.

“Now is a time to do some revamping on the Korean football team. The KFA will immediately begin the process of appointing a new manager for the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualification. Before that, we will form a new National Team Committee and appoint a new National Team Committee head,” Chung said.

BY MARY YANG AND PAIK JI-HWAN [mary.yang@joongang.co.kr]