OFFICIAL: Klinsmann SACKED as South Korea coach after only 12 months in charge

Jurgen Klinsmann has been sacked as South Korea head coach after only 12 months in the role, following their shock Asian Cup semi-final defeat to Jordan.

The German was appointed in February on a deal that ran until the end of the 2026 World Cup.

However, amid reports of in-fighting in the camp ahead of their defeat to Jordan earlier this month, which prolonged the nation's 64-year draught in the competition, the former Tottenham striker has been relieved of his duties.

Hwang Bo-kwan, the technical director of the Korea Football Association (KFA) spoke to reporters after a meeting of an advisory committee on Thursday and advised that the German should no longer continue in the role.

He said: 'We've reached a consensus that Klinsmann cannot exercise his leadership as national team head coach for various reasons and that a change of leadership is necessary.

On the eve of their loss to the side ranked 64 places below them in the world, captain Son Heung-min dislocated a finger after an altercation with a team-mate.

A quarrel flared up between Son and team-mates while they were eating before the game against Jordan, which they lost 2-0 on February 6.

Reports claimed that a number of young players in the squad had rushed eating their meal so they could dash off and play table tennis which infuriated Son, with the situation further escalating from there.

However, more details have since emerged on what exactly transpired that night which saw the South Korea and Spurs captain walk away with a nasty finger injury.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency first reported that Son initially tried to talk to the younger players – including PSG starlet Lee Kang-in – about bonding with their team-mates instead of rushing off to play table tennis.

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