Klinsmann hired to coach South Korea’s national men’s team through World Cup

SEOUL (AP) — Former Germany nice Jurgen Klinsmann was employed Monday to teach South Korea’s nationwide soccer staff.

The 58-year-old Klinsmann, who gained the World Cup as a participant with West Germany in 1990, replaces Paulo Bento. The Portuguese coach left the staff after main South Korea to the second spherical ultimately yr’s World Cup in Qatar.

“I am very happy and honored to be the head coach of South Korea’s national football team,” Klinsmann mentioned in an announcement. “I know well that the Korean national team has been, over a long period of time, constantly improving and producing results.”

Klinsmann signed a contract by the 2026 World Cup, which will likely be held within the United States, Mexico and Canada.

South Korea has certified for 10 straight World Cup tournaments. Klinsmann will likely be anticipated to increase that streak with the Asian area getting eight assured spots on the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026.

After a profitable enjoying profession, Klinsmann coached Germany to the World Cup semifinals in 2006 after which led the United States to the spherical of 16 in 2014. He additionally coached German membership Bayern Munich, one in every of his former groups.

Klinsmann’s first recreation with South Korea will likely be a pleasant towards Colombia on March 24. World Cup qualifying begins in Asia in October however the coach’s first goal will likely be to guide South Korea on the subsequent Asian Cup, scheduled to be held in Qatar in January.

South Korea final gained the continental title in 1960.

Klinsmann, whose final teaching job was a 76-day spell accountable for Hertha Berlin that led to January 2020, would be the eighth overseas coach in South Korea’s historical past and the second from Germany. Uli Stielike was in cost from 2014-17.