Klinsmann sacked as South Korea coach after 12 months in charge

Jurgen Klinsmann has been fired as head coach of the South Korean national team after an Asian Cup semifinal exit and reports of infighting among star players, Report informs, citing AP.

The Korean Football Association made the announcement on Friday.

Klinsmann was already under heavy criticism after South Korea’s upset 2-0 semifinal loss to Jordan last week and pressure intensified following media reports of a spat between captain Son Heung-min and young star Lee Kang-in during the tournament.

On Thursday at an Asian Cup campaign review at KFA headquarters in Seoul, the eight-member National Team Committee talked to Klinsmann via video conference from his home in the United States, before reaching its findings.

“For a number of reasons, we concluded that Klinsmann would no longer be able to show his leadership as head coach of the national team,” the KFA’s technical director Hwangbo Kwan said. “We will report our conclusion to the KFA.”

The final decision was made by KFA chairman Chung Mong-gyu.