Coach Klinsmann praises South Korean players for stepping up to European leagues
South Korea coach Jurgen Klinsmann, aged 59, commended the national team players who have made a mark in top European leagues, attributing this achievement to the significant improvement in Asian football over the past decade. Klinsmann highlighted the success of players like Son Heung-Min (31) and Hwang Hee-Chan (27) in the Premier League, with a combined 22 goals this season, as well as Lee Kang-In (22) and Kim Min-Jae (27) who joined Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich, respectively.
Klinsmann emphasized the challenges players face in moving to Europe, praising their resilience in adapting to new environments, languages, and football styles. With managerial experience in Germany and the United States, Klinsmann, aiming to end South Korea’s 64-year trophy drought in the Asian Cup, stressed the importance of sending players to top European leagues for the improvement of Asian teams.
The coach highlighted notable World Cup upsets as evidence of Asia’s remarkable progress in football over the past decade. Klinsmann, in his 11 months as coach with a contract until the 2026 World Cup, expressed his desire to win the Asian Cup with the Korean team, recognizing their potential but acknowledging the tournament as a marathon.
Get real-time football scores here!
Hwang, a key player in his third season with Wolverhampton Wanderers, dismissed concerns about fatigue among Europe-based players due to the intensity of top-tier leagues. He emphasized the honor and joy of representing Korea, focusing on the team’s commitment to achieving positive results and expressing a willingness to play as many minutes as possible.