Klinsmann Returns Home Smiling - Son Heung-Min Will Not Retire

Coach Klinsmann returns home: After finishing the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann is returning home through Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th. 2024.

The national soccer team, which attempted to win the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup for the first time in 64 years, but was eliminated in the semifinals by Jordan, returned home.

The national soccer team led by coach Jürgen Klinsmann (Germany) returned through Incheon International Airport on the 8th after finishing the 2023 Asian Cup held in Qatar.

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 teams from Qatar, and on this day, 13 players and Klinsmann arrived at Incheon Airport. Coaches, including the manager, came in.

The national team lost 0-2 in the semifinals of the Asian Cup against Jordan held at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar on the morning of the 7th Korean time, and ended the tournament without advancing to the finals.

Coach comforting the captain: South Korea national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann and captain Son Heung-min score 0-2 in the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup semifinal match between Jordan and Korea held at Al-Rayan Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar on the 6th (local time). They are hugging each other with regret after losing. 2024.

Ahead of this tournament, Korea had many players playing in the European big leagues, led by Son Heung-min, and was evaluated as having the best power of all time, and was expected to win the Asian Cup. However, after losing twice in a row in 1956 and 1960, the dream of regaining the top spot was not achieved again.

Coach Klinsmann, who has been criticized for approaching the tournament without any special measures or preparations other than relying on the skills of ‘world-class’ players, has received more criticism after the semi-final defeat against Jordan, and there are even calls for his resignation.

Here, Son Heung-min caused a stir by saying something that seemed to hint at his retirement from the national team in an interview after the Jordan match.

When asked, “Can we expect good results if we hold the North and Central America World Cup in two years under Coach Klinsmann?” Son Heung-min responded, “I think I need to think about whether I can continue to play for the national team in the future. The director may not think of (selecting) me anymore. “I don’t know the future,” he said, avoiding an immediate answer.

Coach Klinsmann reveals his stance: Coach Jurgen Klinsmann of the national soccer team, who finished the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, is revealing his stance to reporters after returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th. 2024.

In relation to this, Coach Klinsmann stated that the national team still needs Son Heung-min’s presence. According to JTBC on the 8th, Coach Klinsmann was asked a related question before returning to Korea and said, “Of course, I will select him (Son Heung-min). “Of course, the captain is Son Heung-min,” he said. If Klinsmann’s national team is maintained, the ‘captain Son Heung-min’ system will continue unless Son Heung-min decides to retire. Earlier, at a press conference after the game against Jordan, Coach Klinsmann said, “As a coach, if we don’t achieve the goal we wanted, of course we have to take responsibility,” and added, “Because we failed to achieve the goal, we need to analyze it more.

“He needs to look back on all the matches in the competition,” he said, without revealing his intention to resign. The national team is now preparing for the international match period in March. During the March A-match period, two 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 2nd qualifying matches will be held. Korea, which took the lead in Group C (6 points) after winning two consecutive games against Singapore (5-0) and China (3-0) last November, played a home game against Thailand on March 21 and then traveled to Thailand on the 26th. I’m planning on going to the game. The national team is expected to be called up on March 18th.

Focus on coach Klinsmann: After finishing the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup, national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann is giving his position to reporters after returning to Korea through Incheon International Airport Passenger Terminal 1 on the afternoon of the 8th. 2024.