Jurgen Klinsmann could be headed to China

Jurgen Klinsmann looks on before the Asian Cup quarterfinal match between Korea and Australia at Al Janoub Stadium in Al Wakrah, Qatar on Feb. 3. [YONHAP]

Recently-axed Korean national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann could be headed to China.

According to reports Tuesday, Klinsmann is on the Chinese Football Association’s candidate list for the vacated national team manager position. The position has been vacant since the CFA sacked Aleksandar Jankovic last month after China’s exit from the Asian Cup group stage.

The reports come after Klinsmann was dismissed from the Korean national team manager position after a one-year spell during which he faced criticism for a perceived lack of tactical awareness and failed to win the Asian Cup. Korea exited with a semifinal loss to Jordan on Feb. 6.

Before the Asian Cup exit, Korea was riding a 13-game unbeaten streak, although Klinsmann still faced criticism for a perceived lack of tactical awareness.

During that run, Korea also beat China 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier in November last year. Jankovic was the Chinese national team’s manager in that match.

Tuesday’s reports also said that the CFA can afford Klinsmann’s annual salary. His salary as Korean national team manager was said to be around 2.9 billion won ($2.1 million).

Whether Klinsmann will take charge of the Chinese national team remains to be seen, with reports suggesting that former Qatari national team manager Carlos Queiroz and former Omani national team manager Branko Ivankovic are also on the CFA's radar.

China will play the 2026 World Cup qualifiers next month against Singapore. Teams play a home-and-away format series in the qualification, with China playing the first game against Singapore on March 21, before the second match on March 26.

China sits in third place in Group C. Nine groups of four compete in each group, with the top two teams reaching the third round of qualifiers.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]