BEIJING, Feb. 21 - The English-language version of South Korean media outlet Joongang Ilbo said that former South Korean national team head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who recently stepped down from his post, may replace Jankovic in coaching China's men's national soccer team.
Jurgen Klinsmann, who was just sacked by the Korean Football Association (KFA), is on the CFA's list of candidates for the national team coaching job, writes the Korean media with the headline "Jurgen Klinsmann may coach in China". The position has been vacant since the Chinese men's soccer team's humiliating exit from the Asian Cup group stage last month and the firing of Jankovic (note: the CFA has yet to officially announce Jankovic's dismissal).
Klinsmann was officially sacked by the Korean Football Association on the 16th of this month after his leadership record failed to live up to expectations following his suspension from the Asian Cup Top 8. The famous German coach is expected to find a new job through lightning five days after his dismissal and that is to become the coach of the Chinese men's soccer team. The CFA can afford Klinsmann's annual salary. His salary as the coach of the South Korean national team is said to be around 2.9 billion won (about 15.45 million yuan).
South Korean media also said that it remains to be seen whether Klinsmann will take charge of the Chinese men's soccer team, although the CFA is interested. Besides Klinsmann, former Qatar coach Queiroz and former Oman coach Ivankovic are also under the CFA's radar.
Notably, back in 2019, Klinsmann was one of the targets for the national soccer team's selection. Last November, Klinsmann also led the South Korean men's soccer team in the 36-team tournament, directly against the Chinese men's soccer team. At that time, he led South Korea in Shenzhen, away from home to beat the Chinese men's soccer team Yankovic 3-0.
