After weeks of intense scrutiny following the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the fate of South Korea’s national football team coach Jurgen Klinsmann was sealed on February 16, 2024. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced his dismissal, a decision that stemmed from a series of criticisms regarding his leadership and performance.
The Road to Dismissa
The criticisms against Klinsmann intensified after South Korea’s fourth-place finish in the Asian Cup. On February 15, 2024, the KFA’s Technical Director, Hwang bo Kwan, stated that the Reinforcement Committee had cited Klinsmann’s lack of tactical preparation, insufficient effort in scouting new players, failure to control the squad, and poor work ethic as key issues. The committee concluded that Klinsmann could no longer effectively lead the national team and recommended a change in management.
This sentiment was echoed by KFA President Chung Mong-gyu on February 16, 2024, who officially announced Klinsmann’s departure. Chung stated that the coach had failed to demonstrate the necessary effort and leadership in game management and player handling, deeming improvement unlikely.
Persistent Controversies
Klinsmann’s tenure was plagued by constant debate surrounding his game management and competitive shortcomings. A primary source of this controversy was his work ethic, largely attributed to his frequent stays in the United States, where his family resides. This contrasted sharply with his predecessor, Paulo Bento, who largely resided in South Korea during his four-year term. Klinsmann’s limited presence in South Korea naturally led to fewer observations of K-League matches, fueling accusations of insufficient effort in player scouting. These perceived deficiencies, in turn, fed into the ongoing debates about his in-game management and the team’s overall competitiveness. The narrative of the “diligent” Bento versus the “undiligent” Klinsmann, often briefly present before and after matches, firmly took hold, ensuring that controversies would persist as long as this perception remained.
Ultimately, a coach’s performance is judged by results. The 2023 AFC Asian Cup was Klinsmann’s first major test. However, even during the tournament, criticisms continued. The team’s frequent extra-time matches left players physically and mentally drained, yet there were minimal changes to the starting lineup and limited substitutions. This led to accusations of over-reliance on European-based players and a lack of discernible tactics. Klinsmann’s perceived casual demeanor, often seen smiling during matches, further exacerbated public discontent. While he did show more typical coaching intensity in the Round of 16 match against Saudi Arabia and the quarterfinals against Australia, these moments were overshadowed by broader concerns.
Despite South Korea’s fourth-place finish in the Asian Cup, a slight improvement from their fifth-place finish in 2019, it was still considered a disappointing outcome for a nation that consistently aims for the championship, especially with what many called the “strongest ever” squad. This ambiguous result suggested that the controversies surrounding Klinsmann would likely continue.
The “Table Tennis Incident” and the Final Straw
The tipping point for Klinsmann’s dismissal came not from a direct footballing outcome, but from an unrelated incident: the altercation between star players Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in. On February 14, 2024, British media outlet The Sun broke the story, quickly picked up by South Korean media. Ahead of the semi-final match against Jordan, Lee Kang-in and some younger players attempted to play table tennis after dinner, leading to a confrontation with Son Heung-min, who tried to stop them. Son sustained a finger injury during the scuffle. Following the domestic media storm, Lee Kang-in issued an apology via his social media.
Many domestic reports subsequently pointed to this incident as a reason for the national team’s lackluster performance in the 4-0 loss to Jordan in the semi-finals. Crucially, this event directly related to the “failure to control the squad” cited by the Reinforcement Committee on February 15, 2024, and by KFA President Chung Mong-gyu on February 16, 2024. This incident served as the final catalyst, bringing the ongoing debate about Klinsmann’s future to a definitive conclusion.
Reactions and Future Steps
Overall, the assessment of Klinsmann’s time as coach is largely negative, primarily stemming from perceptions of his work ethic. The ambiguous results of the Asian Cup were not enough to overturn this overwhelmingly negative view.
Former national team player Lee Chun-soo (43) strongly criticized Klinsmann’s lack of leadership in a YouTube video posted on February 15, 2024. He argued that while results are important, a coach’s fundamental role includes establishing discipline and uniting the players. Lee questioned why Klinsmann was coaching the national team if he was unaware of internal team issues, highlighting his perceived absolute lack of leadership.
In contrast, national team defender Kim Jin-soo (32, Jeonbuk Hyundai) appeared on Lee Woon-jae’s YouTube channel “JJ Studio” on February 16, 2024, expressing regret over the widespread negative perception of Klinsmann. Kim stated that he witnessed the efforts of Klinsmann and his coaching staff as team members, suggesting that the players also bore some responsibility.
Regarding the team altercation, KFA President Chung Mong-gyu stated on February 16, 2024, that “picking sides could worsen the wounds” and urged the media and fans to assist. He emphasized the need to focus on how players can grow and become a more cohesive team rather than dwelling on blame.
However, based on Chung’s statement, it appears there’s a risk of the internal team dispute being swept under the rug. It is crucial for the KFA to thoroughly investigate the cause and accountability of this incident and implement measures to prevent such internal conflicts from recurring, rather than simply using Klinsmann’s dismissal as a way to close the chapter on the controversy.
What are your thoughts on how the KFA should address the underlying issues that led to the “table tennis incident”?
