South Korea's football manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, is under fire from politicians after his team's unexpected loss to Jordan in the Asia Cup.
Despite having top players like Tottenham star Son Heung-Min, Bayern Munich's Kim Min-Jae and Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in, South Korea were knocked out in the semi-finals, with Qatar eventually winning the tournament. Klinsmann has been heavily criticised in the Korean Times for his tactics and the perception of a carefree attitude, as he was seen smiling after their last-four defeat despite South Korea being favourites to lift the trophy.
Politicians, including Kweon Seong-dong of the ruling People Power Party, have joined the public in calling for the former Tottenham striker's dismissal by the Korea Football Association (KFA). Kweon expressed his disappointment on Facebook, saying: "Due to repeated disappointments during the Asian Cup campaign, Klinsmann was criticised for an absence of tactics. There were many concerns from the beginning of his appointment as the national team coach, and this Asian Cup has turned those concerns into reality.
"The national criticisms against him are not about the wins or losses at the tournament. They are about doubts regarding his capability as the national team coach and his negligent attitude toward his job."
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo has called for Klinsmann's dismissal, stating on Facebook: "KFA President Chung [Mong-gyu] should take the responsibility on the penalties coming from cancelling the contract with Klinsmann, and tell him that he has been dismissed. I have experience winning a lawsuit against a dismissed head coach who demanded his salary within the contracted period."
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Hong was previously chairman of Gyeongnam FC during his time as the governor of South Gyeongsang Province, with the government owning the football club. Despite this, Klinsmann remained firm after South Korea's loss to Jordan, stating: "I'm not planning to do anything. I'm planning to analyse this tournament, to go with the team back to Korea and then talk to the federation about what was good and what was not so good in that tournament.
"I think there was a lot of good stuff that we saw. There's a team that is growing, a team that still has to develop towards the World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada over the next few years, with a very difficult qualifying campaign. So there's a lot of work ahead of us."
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