“It is an honor to be the manager of Korean football, which has been constantly developing. I will make a successful result at the World Cup three years later.”
Former German national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann (59) has been appointed as the new head coach of the Korean national soccer team, which broke up with coach Paulo Bento. According to the Korea Football Association on the 28th, the contract period with coach Klinsman is about 3 years and 5 months from March to the 2026 World Cup finals in North and Central America. It is the ninth foreign director ever and the second German director after Uli Stielike. The Football Association did not disclose the annual salary according to the agreement between the two sides, but it is known that it is more than the former Bento coach스포츠토토 (about 1.8 billion won).
As one of Klinsman’s coaching staff, Cha Doo-ri, head of FC Seoul’s Youth Enhancement Office, is expected to join the team. Director Cha is fluent in German, and has worked together as a member of the FIFA Technical Research Group (TSG) at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and is said to have played a role in the process of appointing the manager this time.
Coach Klinsman was concerned about ‘home command’ during the negotiations, but like Bento, he signed a contract to live in Korea during his tenure. He is scheduled to start coaching the Korean national team in earnest next week. His first official match is a friendly match against Colombia on March 24 at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium.
After signing the contract, new head coach Klinsman said through the Korea Football Association, “I am very happy and honored to be the head coach of the Korean national soccer team. He is well aware that the Korean national team has been constantly developing and producing results over a long period of time.” I will do my best to achieve successful results in the upcoming Asian Cup and 2026 World Cup.”
Coach Klinsmann played an active role as a world-class striker representing Germany during his playing days. From Italy in 1990 to France in 1998, he participated in three consecutive World Cup finals. He played a key role in helping Germany win the World Cup in Italy and Euro 1996, among others. In the 1994 World Cup in the United States, he also scored two goals in the group stage against Korea.
After his professional debut, he played for Stuttgart, Bayern Munich (Germany), Inter Milan, Sampdoria (Italy), Monaco (France), and Tottenham (England), scoring 284 goals in 620 matches.
Director Klinsman, who retired from active duty in 1998, also left a strong mark as his leader. He coached the German national team from 2004 to 2006 and finished third in the 2006 World Cup held in his country. From 2011 to 2016, he coached the U.S. national team, winning the 2013 North and Central America Gold Cup and advancing to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. However, it is unknown whether he will recover his sense of the field and adapt to Asian football, as his on-field leader will return after 3 years since Hertha Berlin and the national team after 6 years since his time in the United States.