"Historic National Team Leadership and 'Passive Football' Demand for Klinsmann's Dismissal in Public Petition"

A public petition demanding the dismissal of head coach J?rgen Klinsmann (Germany) of the South Korean national football team has emerged after a series of poor performances that prevented the team from reaching the final in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup.

Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the national soccer team who finished the Asian Cup, is smiling during an interview as he returns home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

According to the National Assembly's public petition website, a football fan posted a petition on the 9th titled "A Petition for the Dismissal of Coach Klinsmann, Who Shocked Asia with 'Overhyped' Football, 'Do It for Me' Football, and 'Neglectful' Football Despite Leading the South Korean National Football Team Composed of an All-Time Golden Generation."

The petitioner identified themselves as a member of the 'Red Devils' and a referee affiliated with the Korea Football Association, citing South Korea's record of 11 goals scored and 10 conceded in six matches during this Asian Cup. They strongly urged the dismissal of Coach Klinsmann, whom they blamed for turning the team into a laughingstock among Asian countries due to the worst performance.

The petitioner expressed anger that although Coach Klinsmann consistently declared an "Asian Cup victory," South Korea repeatedly performed poorly in the group stage, barely advanced to the semifinals after consecutive extra-time matches, and was eliminated with a dismal 0-2 loss and zero shots on target. They also criticized Klinsmann for maintaining his own approach despite ongoing controversies over remote work and overseas trips, emphasizing the need for dismissal by stating, "Since he declared the goal of winning the Asian Cup and asked to be judged by the results, he must be subject to a cold evaluation."

The petitioner mentioned the national team roster, regarded as a "golden generation" and an "all-time great squad," expressing disappointment by saying, "I never thought we would be eliminated so miserably after repeated poor performances against countries far below our level."

Claiming that "Coach Klinsmann blames the players," the petitioner questioned, "Isn't it the coach's role to refine the golden generation, composed literally of European elite team starters such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) from the English Premier League (EPL), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who was named Man of the Match (MOM) in the 2023 Troph?e des Champions (French Super Cup) final, and Kim Min-jae, a starting center-back for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga, to maximize their performance?"

They continued, "According to some media reports, the penalty for dismissing Coach Klinsmann is 6.8 billion won, but the Korea Football Association, which appointed him, should take full responsibility." They appealed for his dismissal, stating, "With Klinsmann at the helm, the 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup Asian qualifiers are uncertain, and even if we qualify for the finals, there is no expectation due to the bland tactics and performance."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.