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Agence France-Presse

South Korea began 2024 vowing to win the Asian Cup but they have endured a year of turmoil and are still without a coach three months after the sacking of Jurgen Klinsmann.
Led by skipper and Spurs ace Son Heung-min, South Korea are on course to reach the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
But all is not well in South Korean football.
Despite boasting the likes of Son and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, the Koreans were beaten 2-0 by underdogs Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup in Qatar.
It then emerged there had been a bust-up on the eve of the game between Son and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, leaving the captain with a dislocated finger.

Facing a fan revolt, the legendary German striker Klinsmann was subsequently fired in February after only a year in charge.
But the Korea Football Association has failed to secure a replacement and were rebuffed by top target Jesse Marsch this month when the former Leeds United boss chose Canada instead.
Now the Koreans head into next month’s World Cup qualifiers under an interim coach whose previous job ended after he appeared to headbutt an assistant from an opposing team.
They had a different caretaker in charge for qualifiers in March.
South Korean football journalist Hong Jae-min told AFP the country was going through a football “dark age” and laid the blame at the feet of KFA president, Chung Mong-gyu.
“All of the problems come from president Chung – he has been in that post for 11 years and the results are terrible,” Hong said.

“He has dragged Korean football backwards, absolutely.”
The KFA declined to reply to an AFP request for comment.
The KFA reportedly talked to American Marsch and Iraq’s Spanish coach Jesus Casas, with 71-year-old Senol Gunes from Turkey and former Saudi Arabia coach Herve Renard also in the picture.
None of the negotiations was successful and Kim Do-hoon was this week named to lead the team on an interim basis against Singapore away on June 6 and China at home five days later.
Kim’s last job was at Singapore’s Lion City Sailors, which he left under a cloud after being suspended for three matches for violent conduct for an alleged headbutt during an ill-tempered game.
South Korea need just a point to be sure of reaching the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
Kim’s temporary appointment comes after under-23 coach Hwang Sun-hong was put in interim charge for South Korea’s home and away World Cup qualifiers against Thailand in March.

Hwang led the team to a 1-1 home draw and a 3-0 win in Bangkok, and was seen as a strong candidate for the job on a permanent basis.
But his stock plummeted when the under-23s team, which he coached, failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics – the first time they had missed out on the Games in 40 years.
Referring in particular to the failure to find a replacement for Klinsmann, national broadcaster KBS said South Korea were “in an unprecedented situation”.
“Fans’ trust in the KFA is hitting the bottom,” the report said.
KFA president Chung has come in for fierce criticism, with fans and media holding him responsible for appointing and initially sticking by the deeply unpopular Klinsmann.
But the 63-year-old Chung was elected to the Asian Football Confederation’s executive committee last week and journalist Hong said there was “no possibility” he would step down as KFA chief.
Hong said financial issues have been the biggest stumbling block to appointing a full-time coach, with the KFA tying up funds in building a new state-of-the-art training centre.

Hong said South Korea’s track record with coaches meant fans should not expect the eventual appointment to be someone at the very highest level.
Before Klinsmann, the hot seat was occupied by Paulo Bento, now coach of the United Arab Emirates.
South Korea’s best World Cup performance remains reaching the semi-finals under Dutchman Guus Hiddink in 2002, when they jointly hosted the tournament with Japan.
“Hiddink, Bento, Klinsmann – they were all at a low point in their careers when they came to Korea,” Hong said.
“Which means they were cheap.”


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South Korea

South Korea’s failed hunt for sacked Jurgen Klinsmann’s successor lifts lid on deeper issues in domestic game

South Korea failed to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time  in 40 years after their penalty shoot-out defeat by Indonesia. Photo Xinhua

Son Heung-min with Jurgen Klinsmann during an Asian Cup qualifier against Singapore last year. Photo: Reuters

KFA president Chung Mong Gyu was elected an AFC executive committee member last week. Photo: EPA-EFE

Kim Do-hoon will lead South Korea on an interim basis against Singapore and China. Photo: Lion City Sailors

South Korea’s best World Cup was in 2002, when they reached the last four under Guus Hiddink. Photo: Reuters

Son Heung-min and co to play under ‘headbutt’ coach while South Korea search for Jurgen Klinsmann’s replacement

Captain Son Heung-min and his South Korea teammates are to have their second caretaker boss in a matter of months. Photo: AP

Jurgen Klinsmann was dismissed by South Korea after this year’s Asian Cup finals in Qatar. Photo: AFP

South Korea’s previous interim boss was their under-23 coach Hwang Sun-hong. Photo: AFP

Indonesia, Asian football’s sleeping tiger, is ready to roar after Asian Cup success and almost making Olympics, World Cup

The passion of Indonesia’s football fans, seen here outside the Gelora Bung Karno stadium watching the live stream of the pre-Olympic playoff, probably outstrips any country on the Asian continental mainland. Photo: AFP

Indonesian fans at a large-screen live streaming of the 1-0 pre-Olympic play-off defeat to Guinea. Photo: AFP

Indonesia’s South Korean coach Shin Tae-yong has been responsible for Indonesia’s resurgence. Photo: AFP

Forward Rafael Struick (left) is one of a growing number of Indonesian players of international quality. Photo: AFP

Indonesian Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir heads PSSI, the football association. Photo: AFP

China women’s team hire ex-assistant to Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou as manager ahead of 2026 Asian Cup and 2027 World Cup

Former Australia coach Ante Milicic has been named as the new China women’s boss. Photo: Reuters

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou had Ante Milicic as his assistant while Australia manager. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong forward Awal slept through World Cup recall, says Asian Cup finals axe left him ‘mentally, not OK’

Mahama Awal is keen to force himself back into the plans of Hong Kong head coach Jorn Andersen. Photo: Jelly Tse

Mahama Awal (left) last figured for Hong Kong in November 2023. Photo: Jelly Tse

Mahama Awal (left) wants to stay with Southern after his current contract expires on May 31. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Threat of legal action against Fifa by leagues, unions over ‘economic harm’ puts inaugural Club World Cup in doubt

Fifa president Gianni Infantino’s project for an expanded Club World Cup will make its debut in 2025. Photo: AP

From next season, elite European competitions will increase their participants to 36 teams. Photo: Xinhua

Sport

Football

The national team are on course to reach the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, but all is not well behind the scenes
Aside from there being no permanent coach, the U23s failed to make the Olympics while there is discontent with the FA boss


The national team look set for the next qualifying stage for the 2026 World Cup, but the U23s failed to make the Olympics and there is discontent with the FA boss.


Fifa World Cup 2026

South Korea’s failed hunt for sacked Jurgen Klinsmann’s successor lifts lid on deeper issues in domestic game

The national team are on course to reach the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, but all is not well behind the scenes Aside from there being no permanent coach, the U23s failed to make the Olympics while there is discontent with the FA boss

The national team are on course to reach the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, but all is not well behind the scenes

Aside from there being no permanent coach, the U23s failed to make the Olympics while there is discontent with the FA boss