SouthKorea

Jürgen Klinsmann’s reputation on the line as he dives into South Korea job

23-Mar-2023 08:00:04 | The Guardian

World Cup qualification in 2026 is an achievable goal but manager needs to do more than that to make his mark in Asia

After a career spent in Europe and North America, Jürgen Klinsmann is now in Asia. He announced his first South Korea squad this month at the country’s National Football Centre in Paju, where buses pass moments before unloading tourists into Odusan Unification Tower to look through big binoculars into North Korea.

The German will become used to the drive southeast, passing Seoul World Cup Stadium in about 30 minutes and then soon after, traffic permitting, arriving in the middle of the capital and turning right into a secluded street and a swanky neighbourhood of trendy restaurants, expensive wine bars and the headquarters of the Korean Football Association. The journey from the edge of the demilitarised zone to downtown Seoul is a short one but the two worlds are very different.