South Korea

The phrase 'Leeds Days' is used by millions of people in South Korea. But why? What does it mean? And what has Alan Smith got to do with it?

Ahead of a summer featuring the Copa America in the U.S. and Euro 2024 in Germany, Nike and Adidas have released a tranche of new kits

The Athletic spent Sunday with some of the South Korea Spurs supporters’ club. Their backstories are not as predictable as you might imagine

Against Lazio, a timely monster performance from Kim Min-jae would go some way towards saving Bayern’s season

Ange Postecoglou says that for all Son Heung-min’s popularity and reputation as a nice guy, “if something is not right, he will say it.” Tottenham Hotspur head coach Postecoglou was speaking in the wake of the incident at the Asian Cup when Spurs and South Korea national team captain Son dislocated a finger during a disagreement among the Korean squad. Son, 31, was one of a group of senior players who objected to some of the younger ones wanting to leave a team meal early to play table tennis, and he suffered the injury trying to break up the fracas that followed. Postecoglou appointed...

Jurgen Klinsmann has been dismissed from his role as South Korea manager following his side’s Asian Cup semi-final exit on February 6. His sacking was confirmed at a press conference held on Friday with Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu. “The KFA has decided to change the national head coach following a comprehensive review,” he said. “Klinsmann has failed to display managerial capability and leadership expected of a national head coach in areas ranging from tactics, personnel management to work attitude and others required to bring about...

A disagreement between the Spurs and PSG players ended not just with captain Son dislocating his finger, but with disharmony in the camp

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min dislocated his finger during a disagreement with younger team-mates while at the Asian Cup with the South Korea national team. The incident happened following a team dinner ahead of South Korea’s semi-final against Jordan when younger players — including Paris-Saint Germain’s 22-year-old forward Lee Kang-in — wanted to leave to go and play table tennis. Son, who also captains South Korea, called out the younger squad members for a perceived lack of focus and during the incident ended up injuring his finger. “It happened when some young...

Klinsmann vows to carry on but the recriminations have begun after South Korea made a mess of latest bid to win a first Asian Cup since 1960

Son Heung-min is due to return to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday following South Korea’s exit from the Asian Cup. Son, 31, has missed Spurs’ last five matches in all competitions having previously started all 20 of the club’s Premier League games this season. He is their top scorer with 12 goals and has added five assists. Son’s return to his club puts him in line to feature for Ange Postecoglou’s side against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. South Korea were hoping to win a first Asian Cup since 1960 but a faltering campaign under Jurgen Klinsmann was...

In the semi-finals against Jordan, a nation ranked 87th in the world, South Korea’s luck finally ran out in a deserved 2-0 defeat in Qatar

South Korea have made it through to the Asian Cup quarter-final after defeating Saudi Arabia on penalties following a 1-1 draw. Abdullah Radif’s second-half goal seemed destined to secure victory for Saudi Arabia, but Cho Gue-sung’s dramatic 99th-minute header levelled the match, forcing the game to extra time. The scoreline remained unchanged in the added 30 minutes as the last 16 clash headed to a penalty shootout. Sami Al Najei and Abdulrahman Ghareeb both saw their penalties saved, while South Korea smoothly converted their first three, paving the way for Hwang Hee-chan to...

They may have Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in and Kim Min-jae, but Klinsmann's side have failed to beat teams ranked 87 and 130 in the world

Recruitment experts say the 'insane' deals on offer in Japan make it the best value transfer market in world football

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min will lead South Korea at the Asian Cup after the final squad was confirmed on Thursday. The tournament kicks off in Qatar on January 12 and will run through until February 10. Son, his nation’s most-capped active player, is joined in a squad of 26 by in-form Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan, young Brentford defender Kim Ji-soo as well as Celtic duo Yang Hyun-jun and Oh Hyeon-gyu. South Korea haven’t won the Asian Cup since 1960 but head coach Jurgen Klinsmann believes he has a group who can challenge. “When you go through the roster and...