Discussions

The Korean Football Association's "former players" gathered to discuss the future of Jürgen Klinsmann's national team, which failed to win the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, and there were even calls for the coach to be fired.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said on Wednesday, "The executives of the KFA's playing staff held a meeting this morning at the association to review the Asian Cup and discuss the overall issues of the tournament in a free discussion style."

The meeting was held ahead of this week's National Strength and Conditioning Committee meeting to hear opinions on the national team's performance at the Asian Cup and the public opinion on Klinsmann's dismissal, the KFA said.

President Chung Mong-kyu was absent, and Kim Jung-bae, a former second vice president of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who took over in May last year, presided over the meeting, which was attended by vice presidents Jang Oe-ryong, Lee Seok-jae, and Choi Young-il, as well as power enhancement chairman Michael Muller, tournament chairman Jung Hae-sung, 안전놀이터 referee chairman Lee Jung-min, technical chairman Lee Im-saeng, technical director Hwang Bo-kwan, and management director Jeon Han-jin.

As it was a free discussion, various stories came out, and there were also voices in favor of dismissing the commander.

Vice Chairman Lee Seok-jae said, "From my point of view, he (Klinsmann) should be fired. We need to overhaul and move on to a new face," he said.

Klinsmann's team lost 0-2 to Jordan in the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, failing to regain the crown after 64 years.

The team was criticized by fans for their lackluster performance throughout the tournament, as they failed to dominate their opponents.

After the quarterfinal exit, there was a lot of criticism of Klinsmann, who was accused of not letting his star players play to their full potential in Europe and of smiling after failing to achieve their goals.

Some even accused Klinsmann of tarnishing the legacy of former coach Paulo Bento, who led South Korea to the round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Bento, who was criticized for being "stubborn" during his tenure for not playing buildup soccer and not playing Lee Kang-in (PSG), was pressured to resign after the World Cup round of 16, but after public opinion changed to a "gritty commander" after the team reached the World Cup, he moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Bento's UAE were eliminated in the round of 16 at the Asian Cup.

After the Asian Cup, as the public opinion on Klinsmann's dismissal intensified, the Football Association organized a meeting between Hwang Bo-kwan, the head of the technical department, and Muller, the chairman of the power strengthening committee, on the 12th to review the Asian Cup.

Meanwhile, soccer fans protested in front of the Shinmunro Football Center in Jongno-gu, calling for Klinsmann's dismissal.

They chanted, "Sack Klinsmann immediately. Disclose the background and process of his appointment and the standard of his salary' and 'Start reforming the Football Association. Resign Chung Mong-kyu and officials en masse," and other placards.