Jurgen Klinsmann back in football! Ex-USMNT boss appointed South Korea manager

• German last worked with Hertha in 2020
• Managed USA at the 2014 World Cup
• Savoured global glory as a player

WHAT HAPPENED? The 58-year-old German, who was a World Cup winner in his playing days, has been out of coaching since leaving Hertha Berlin in 2020 after just 10 weeks at their helm. He has agreed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Korea, with that deal set to take him through the 2026 World Cup finals that will be co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico.

WHAT THEY SAID: Klinsmann, who has succeeded Paulo Bento as Korea boss, has said of returning to the dugout: “I am very happy and honoured to be following in the footsteps of great coaches who have directed the Korean national team from Guus Hiddink to former coach Paulo Bento. I will do my best to achieve successful results in the upcoming Asian Cup and 2026 World Cup.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Klinsmann’s first game in charge will be a home friendly against Colombia in Ulsan on March 24, with a meeting with Uruguay set to be taken in four days later.

IN THREE PHOTOS:

WHAT NEXT? Former Tottenham and Bayern Munich striker Klinsmann, who scored 47 international goals in 108 appearances for his country, guided Germany to a third-place finish at the 2006 World Cup on home soil and led the USMNT to the knockout stages of FIFA’s flagship event in 2014.