While coach Jurgen Klinsmann (59), a legendary striker from Germany, has been appointed as the new coach of Korean soccer, it is evaluated that he has the most brilliant career among all previous coaches. Looking at his career alone, it is enough to overwhelm both coach Guus Hiddink and Son Heung-min, who have peaked in Korean football.
Klinsmann made a name for himself as a world-class striker representing Germany during his playing days. He participated in the 1988 Seoul Olympics as a German national team and scored 8 goals in 14 games to win a bronze medal. This is a record that surpasses Son Heung-min’s quarterfinals at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Like Son Heung-min, Klinsmann participated in the World Cup three times. He participated in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the 1994 World Cup in the USA and the 1998 World Cup in France three times in a row. Son Heung-min’s best performance in the World Cup was the round of 16, but Klinsmann contributed to the 1990 World Cup victory.
Klinsmann saved the team from danger by scoring the opening goal in the round of 16 of the 1990 tournament when key striker Rudy Völler was sent off in the first half. In the final match against Argentina안전놀이터, he forced opposing defender Pedro Monson off, giving his team a numerical advantage. After this final match, Klinsmann earned the dishonorable nickname of ‘The Diver’, a trick to referees.
Klinsmann left a deep impression on Korean soccer fans by scoring two goals against Korea at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Klinsmann also had a high reputation in national competitions by continent. He competed in consecutive European Championships (Euro) in 1988, 1992 and 1996. Son Heung-min was runner-up at the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, but Klinsmann experienced runner-up at Euro 1992 and Germany’s victory at Euro 1996.
Only Clins’ club career is more colorful. Son Heung-min has yet to win the championship, but Klinsmann won the UEFA Cup (1990-1991 Inter Milan, 1995-1996 Bayern Munich) and Bundesliga while playing in Stuttgart, Bayern Munich (above Germany), Inter Milan (Italy), and Tottenham (England). (1995-1996 Bayern Munich).
Just as Son Heung-min became the top scorer in the English Premier League last year, Klinsmann also became the top scorer in Stuttgart in the 1987-1988 season.
Klinsmann, who turned into a manager, had a higher career than Hiddink, who changed the history of Korean football in terms of grades.
Unlike Hiddink, who was an ordinary player, Klinsmann, who finished his playing career in 1998 with a splendid career, coached the German national team from 2004 to 2006 and finished third in the 2006 World Cup held in his country.
Coach Hiddink’s best results in the World Cup were 4th place at the 1998 France World Cup by leading the Netherlands, and 4th place at the 2022 Korea-Japan World Cup while leading Korea.
Just as coach Hiddink led Australia to the round of 16, Klinsman led the U.S. national team for five years from 2011 to advance to the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Looking at the path he has passed, attention is being paid to whether only Klins, who boasts a brilliant career, will be able to produce results that match the Korean national team’s leadership.