"Go Home!" Returnee Faces Backlash... Cleansman Says "My Way Won't Change"

After finishing the match in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup semifinals, South Korea national football team coach Jurgen Klinsmann returned home on the 8th and responded with a smiling face despite the jeers from pouring football fans. Some football fans shouted at Coach Klinsmann, “Is this football!” “Go home!” “Go home,” and even protested by throwing a rude gesture.

European league players including captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton) returned directly to their respective clubs from Qatar, while 13 players and the coaching staff including Coach Klinsmann arrived at Incheon Airport that day.

After completing the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the national football team, is waving to fans as he returns home through Incheon International Airport Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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About 300 people gathered at the arrival hall, and in an interview with the press at Incheon International Airport that evening, when asked the first question, “Do you intend to resign? Do you think you are still qualified to lead the national team?” Klinsmann replied, “Good question,” and said, “I wanted to win this tournament as much as you all did.”

He continued, “Jordan was a much better team in the final, and they fully deserved to advance to the final. I don’t think reaching the semifinals can be called a failure.”

He added, “We also had a 13-match unbeaten streak before the match against Jordan, and there were positive aspects in this tournament,” and said, “Considering that, it is important to prepare for the upcoming 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers,” expressing his intention to continue leading the national team.

After completing the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, Jurgen Klinsmann, the head coach of the national football team, spoke to the press after returning through Terminal 1 of Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 8th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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Coach Klinsmann said, “We are in a growth process. Over the past year, we have grown and discovered new things. I want to say that we are looking toward the World Cup by bringing young players into the team,” and added, “The national team is growing in the right direction.”

He also said, “I had many conversations with Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, on site. We talked about positive things as well as many areas that need improvement,” and “We discussed preparations including the two matches against Thailand in March and other upcoming plans.”

Having been criticized for frequent overseas schedules since his appointment, he stated that he will maintain his current way of working. Klinsmann said, “Since there are World Cup qualifiers, I cannot be away for a long time,” but added, “The national team coach must handle business, including trips, differently from a professional club coach.”

He said, “Next week, I will depart for my home in the United States to take a short break, then go to Europe to watch the matches of Lee Kang-in, Son Heung-min, and Kim Min-jae in person,” and firmly stated, “I am aware of the criticisms, but my working style will not change.”

Coach Klinsmann and Coach Cha Du-ri comforting Son Heung-min
Photo by Yonhap News

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Earlier, after the match against Jordan, he also said at a press conference, “Since we did not achieve our goal, we need to analyze more. We need to review all the matches in the tournament,” and did not express any intention to resign.

Regarding captain Son Heung-min, who said after the Jordan match, “I think I need to consider whether I can continue with the national team,” Klinsmann said, “Son Heung-min is still the team captain and leader. He will, of course, join the national team as captain in March.”

He added, “Son Heung-min must have dreamed of bringing the Asian Cup trophy to Korea, so it must be an emotionally difficult moment not to have done so,” and said, “Now it is time to set new goals. I hope we prepare well and create new goals together.”

Earlier, the Korea Football Association planned to hold a Strengthening Committee meeting after the Lunar New Year holiday to review the Asian Cup and discuss the overall operation of the national team. The specific timing, method, and whether Coach Klinsmann will attend will be decided later.

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