クリンスマン監督を解任 サッカー韓国代表、在任１年足らず

【ソウルＡＦＰ＝時事】大韓サッカー協会（ＫＦＡ）は１６日、ユルゲン・クリンスマン代表監督（５９）の解任を発表した。先日のアジアカップでヨルダンに準決勝で敗れたことを受けての判断で、クリンスマン氏は在任１年足らずでチームを去ることになった。（写真はサッカーアジアカップ準決勝でヨルダンに敗れ、帰国した韓国代表のユルゲン・クリンスマン監督）
　前日に代表戦力強化委員会がクリンスマン氏の解任を勧告していた中、ＫＦＡの鄭夢奎（チョン・モンギュ）会長は、「全面的な見直し」を行った上で監督を交代する決断に至ったと明かした。
　クリンスマン氏については「戦術面や人材マネジメント、チームに闘争心をもたらす仕事への姿勢など、代表監督に求められる能力やリーダーシップを示せなかった」と述べ、「監督としての闘う姿勢や取り組み方は人々の期待に及ばず、今後も改善が見込まれないと判断されたので、２０２６年のＷ杯予選に向けてリーダーシップの交代を決断した」と説明した。
　１４日には、ヨルダン戦の前日にキャプテンの孫興民（ソン・フンミン）とフランス・リーグ１のパリ・サンジェルマン（ＰＳＧ）に所属する李康仁（イ・ガンイン）がいさかいを起こしていたことが判明。その件でクリンスマン氏の解任を求める声が高まり、一部では同氏のマネジメント能力の低さがより浮き彫りになったと指摘されていた。
　ＫＦＡはＷ杯予選に向けて後任探しを即座に始めるとしている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/02/16-17:39）

Jurgen Klinsmann was sacked as South Korea coach Friday following defeat to Jordan in the semi-finals of the Asian Cup and revelations about a bust-up between star players.
The 59-year-old German former striker, a World Cup winner as a player, was in the post for just under a year.
The KFA has decided to change the national head coach following a comprehensive review, Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu said.
Klinsmann has failed to display managerial capability and leadership expected of a national head coach in areas ranging from tactics, personnel management to work attitude and others required to bring about competitiveness to the team.
Klinsmann's attitude and competitiveness as head coach has fallen short of people's expectations and it was agreed that this would not be improved going forward, so we have decided to change leadership ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifying games.
Klinsmann said it had been an incredible journey and thanked his players in a post on social media, just before the axe fell.
With fans and South Korean media demanding Klinsmann's dismissal, the KFA's national team committee had on Thursday said that a change of leadership is necessary.
The South Korean team have been in the eye of a storm.
On Wednesday came revelations about a fracas between players that left Son Heung-min with an injured finger on the eve of the 2-0 loss to Jordan in the last four in Qatar.
Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in subsequently issued an apology after Yonhap news agency said the 22-year-old had tried to punch skipper and Tottenham star Son.
Lee's representatives have denied there was a punch.
The conflict was reportedly triggered by younger players -- including Lee -- rushing through their dinner so they could leave early and play table tennis.
This angered some of the older players, including Son, who wanted to honour longstanding tradition that the pre-game dinner be a team bonding experience, triggering the brawl.
Lee and Son both played in the Jordan loss, the latter with two of his fingers strapped together.
- Star brawl -
The incident fuelled calls for Klinsmann to be sacked, with some saying it was more evidence of his weak management.
KFA president Chung said that the altercation between the star players had occurred after a run of very difficult games physically and emotionally amid more than a month-long group training.
But even so, the KFA felt this incident reflects a lot to us for areas to pay attention to when it comes to managing a national team going forward.
The KFA will right away embark on finding the next head coach for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Yonhap previously reported, citing unnamed sources, that the KFA would consider a temporary appointment for next month's World Cup qualifiers against Thailand if Klinsmann were to be sacked.
Klinsmann, who has never won over South Korean fans or media, had promised to deliver the country's first Asian title in 64 years.
He had previously refused to resign despite fierce pressure and had insisted he would remain living in the United States, despite demands from South Korean fans and media for him to move.