Jurgen Klinsmann named South Korea manager

Jurgen Klinsmann has been named head coach of South Korea, the country's football association said on Monday.

Former Germany coach Klinsmann replaces Paulo Bento, who stepped down following South Korea's defeat by Brazil in the World Cup last 16 in December.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) said Klinsmann had signed a contract until the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

"I know that the Korean national team has been improving and achieving results over a long period of time," Klinsmann said in a statement.

"I am honoured to follow in the footsteps of the great coaches who have led the Korean national team, from Gus Hiddink to my predecessor, Paulo Bento.

"I look forward to doing my utmost to help the team achieve success at the upcoming Asian Cup and the 2026 World Cup."

After retiring as a player in 1998, 1990 World Cup winner Klinsmann was Germany head coach from 2004-06 and led them to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

He managed his former club Bayern Munich in the 2008-09 season before becoming head coach of the US national team from 2011-16.

The 58-year-old led the U.S. to the CONCACAF Gold Cup title in 2013 and was named the CONCACAF Coach of the Year.

He last managed Hertha Berlin, for just 10 weeks, in 2019/20.

During the 2022 World Cup last November, Klinsmann was involved in a war of words with then Iran coach Carlos Queiroz after suggesting while working as a pundit for the BBC that Iran had "worked the referee" in their 2-0 victory over Wales.

Klinsmann's first match in charge of South Korea will be a home friendly against Colombia on 24 March 24.

The KFA said Klinsmann's coaching team had not been finalised, adding that the German would live in South