South Korea started 2024 vowing to win the Asian Cup, but have endured a tumultuous year and are still without a manager, three months after sacking Jurgen Klinsmann.
Led by captain and Spurs ace Son Heung-min, South Korea are on course to take the next step towards qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
However, all is not well in Korean soccer.
Despite featuring Son and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, South Korea lost 0-2 to underdogs Jordan in the Asian Cup semi-finals in Qatar.
It was later revealed that there was a collision between Son and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain the night before the match, resulting in the captain dislocating his finger.
Facing a fan revolt, legendary German striker Klinsmann was subsequently sacked in February after just one year in the position.
However, the Korea Football Association has failed to secure a replacement and was rejected by top target Jesse Marsh this month after the former Leeds United manager chose Canada instead.
The South Korean national team is currently under an interim coach for next month’s World Cup qualifiers, but his predecessor resigned after apparently headbutting an assistant from the opposing team.
A different person was in charge of the qualifying rounds in March.
South Korean soccer journalist Hong Jae-min told AFP that South Korea is entering a “dark age” for soccer, placing the blame on Korean Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu.
“All the problems stem from President Chung. He has been in the post for 11 years and the results are terrible,” Hong said.
“He has definitely set Korean football back.”
KFA did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.
– A useless search –
KFA reportedly spoke to American Marsh and Iraq’s Spanish coach Jesús Casas, and is pictured with 71-year-old Senol Günes from Turkey and former Saudi coach Hervé. Renard is also in the picture.
None of the negotiations were successful, and Kim Do-hoon was assigned to lead the team on an interim basis this week for an away match against Singapore on June 6th and a home match against China five days later.
Kim’s last job was with Singapore’s Lion City Sailors, but he left the club amidst suspicions after being suspended for three games for violent conduct after head-butting him during a sullen game.
South Korea needs one more point to progress to the next stage of World Cup qualifying.
Kim’s temporary appointment came after U-23 national team coach Hwang Sun-hong was named caretaker manager for South Korea’s home and away World Cup qualifiers against Thailand in March.
Hwang led the team to a 1-1 draw at home and a 3-0 win in Bangkok and was seen as a strong candidate for a permanent move.
But his stock plummeted after he missed out on qualifying for the Paris Olympics in the under-23 category, missing out on his first Olympic appearance in 40 years.
State broadcaster KBS said South Korea was in an “unprecedented situation”, specifically noting that a replacement for Klinsmann had not been found.
“Fans’ trust in the KFA has hit rock bottom,” the report said.
– “Cheap option”? –
KFA president Chung has faced intense criticism from fans and the media, who have blamed him for appointing and initially supporting the highly unpopular Klinsmann.
But the 63-year-old Chong was elected to the Asian Football Confederation’s executive committee last week and journalist Hong said there was “no chance” he would step down as KFA president.
Hong said financial issues were the biggest obstacle in appointing a full-time coach as the KFA is investing money in building a state-of-the-art training centre.
Hong said that given the track record of South Korea’s coaching staff, fans shouldn’t expect anyone of the highest calibre to end up in charge.
Prior to Klinsmann, the position was held by Paulo Bento, who is currently the manager of the United Arab Emirates.
South Korea’s best result at the World Cup was reaching the semi-finals of the 2002 tournament co-hosted with Japan under Dutch coach Guus Hiddink.
“Hiddink, Bent, Klinsmann, they were at the lowest point in their careers when they came to Korea,” Hong said.
That means it was cheap.
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