CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 07: Juergen Klinsmann, Head Coach of Korea Republic, looks on prior to the International Friendly match between Wales and Korea Republic at Cardiff City Stadium on September 07, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
CARDIFF, WALES - SEPTEMBER 07: Juergen Klinsmann, Head Coach of Korea Republic, looks on prior to the International Friendly match between Wales and Korea Republic at Cardiff City Stadium on September 07, 2023 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

 

Jürgen Klinsmann, manager of the South Korean national football team, failed to win the first match of the September international match. Korea was in shock. Korean fans and media are criticizing him very harshly.

And public opinion in Korea was very shocked. It may be a cultural difference, but if you become the manager of a foreign team, you must be prepared to respect and accept cultural differences. However, Jürgen Klinsmann is a ‘work from home’ manager in Korea.

Korea's reaction was 'shocked' and 'absurd'.

Korea drew no goals in a friendly match with Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on the 8th.

Klinsmann's team recorded 2 draws and 2 losses in a total of 4 A matches played in March and June, and also drew against Wales this time, making them without a win in 5 games. Korea set a new record of no wins since the debut of a foreign manager.

The results are a problem, but Team Korea's disappointing performance is more problematic. Despite having players playing for Europe's best clubs, including Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae and Lee Jae-sung, Korea had just four shots on target against Wales. There was only one effective shot.

Jürgen Klinsmann / BBC
Jürgen Klinsmann / BBC

 

Jürgen Klinsmann moved players who were good in the center to the sides and placed players with poor performance in the starting lineup. It appears that there is no understanding of the abilities of Korean players. Korea's performance is gradually declining.

After the draw with Wales, everyone in Korea was disappointed with the result. However, Jurgen Klinsmann seemed to be collecting 'souvenirs' before evaluating the game or communicating with the players.

Jurgen Klinsmann approached Aaron Ramsey after the game and asked for a shirt exchange. He said in an interview, "My son plays goalkeeper for the LA Galaxy. He texted me last afternoon and asked, 'Can I get you a Ramsey jersey?'" He revealed that he had carried out a shorts exchange for his son.

Of course, it is something he can do out of concern for his son, but considering the recent performance and results of the Korean national team, it is not an easy scene to understand.

Moreover, his inability to distinguish between public and private matters, going into the locker room after the game and approaching Ramsey to ask for a uniform, ignoring the Korean players who were disappointed with the result after the game, even though he did not specifically request it, is an action that can be quite disappointing to the fans who encounter it.

Jürgen Klinsmann is already being criticized in Korea for ‘working from home’. He is focusing only on his personal work rather than observing Korean players and working to strengthen the national team. Jürgen Klinsmann has been the manager of the South Korea national team for six months, but he has only been in the country for 67 days. He promised to stay in Korea after first becoming manager, but the promise was not kept.

In this situation, his actions to exchange his shirt and even related interviews are reported in the Welsh media, and Korean fans are expected to express even more disappointment in his attitude.

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