Klinsmann Ho takes on ‘Hwang Ui-jo’s risk’, is he looking for a new face?

After the player list is submitted in January next year, it will be difficult to replace players unless there is an injury.
There is a possibility of missing one entry… We need to explore resources outside the existing player pool, such as Oh Hyun-gyu.

As the Klinsmann, which completed its voyage in 2023, begins preparations for next year’s Asian Cup, it is pointed out that there is a need to escape from ‘judicial risk’.

There are voices saying that there is a need to think from the beginning about Hwang Ui-jo (31, Norwich City, photo), whom national soccer team coach Jurgen Klinsmann (59) called “our player.” It is pointed out that it is urgent to come up with an alternative as the Asian Cup roadmap itself could be shaken if he, who has changed his status to a suspect of illegal filming, is actually indicted.

According to the Korea Football Association, Coach Klinsmann plans to leave for his home in the United States on the 23rd, spend Thanksgiving, and then return to Korea around December 12.

Upon returning to Korea, Coach Klinsmann will begin preparations in earnest for the Asian Cup to be held in Qatar in January next year. Since the opponents (Bahrain on January 15, Jordan on January 20, and Malaysia on January 25) that will be met in the Asian Cup finals have all been confirmed, all that needs to be done is to draw up the national team list.

Coach Klinsmann, who took office last March, has finished sorting out the stones to some extent. Looking at the last two convocation lists, even the starting lineup is becoming more solidified with minimal changes.

Coach Klinsmann said at a press conference after returning from a trip to China for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian 2nd round qualifiers, “I told Hwang Ui-jo, ‘You need to score a lot of points to achieve good results in the Asian Cup, so maintain your condition well.’” He said. This is interpreted as meaning that he will be assigned a spot on the final list (23 people).

However, if Hwang Ui-jo cannot prove his innocence, it could be a big problem. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has requested each country that advanced to the finals to submit its roster by early January next year, and after this period, it is difficult to change players unless there is an injury.

A woman who dated Hwang Ui-jo in the past released a transcript on the 23rd containing evidence that Hwang Ui-jo filmed the video illegally.

If Hwang Ui-jo is indicted for this matter, which is currently under investigation, and cannot play in the Asian Cup, the tournament will have to be played with 22 players instead of 23. You may lose one precious entry.

On the soccer field, coach Klinsmann agrees that a wise solution is needed to protect Hwang Ui-jo while exploring alternatives. In any case, in a situation where Cho Kyu-seong (25, Midtjylland) is the starting player, there is a need to find an alternative to Hwang Ui-jo, the second option, from a broader perspective. Not only Oh Hyun-gyu (22, Celtic) but also strikers outside the existing player pool can be candidates.

Coach Klinsmann’s preparations for the Asian Cup should also include a search for a defensive midfielder who has not yet found a starting spot. Park Yong-woo (30, Al Ain) and Lee Soon-min (29, Gwangju) were appointed, but it is difficult to say that they received a passing grade.

The fact that Director Klinsmann mentioned several times out of concern that Son Jun-ho (31), who was detained by Chinese public security authorities for bribing a non-public official, should not be forgotten is an admission that he was unable to find a proper alternative to the position.

It goes without saying that each entry is valuable ahead of a major tournament where “winning” has been repeatedly stated as the goal.

The need to erase variables and find new faces has become an important task, not an option, for the head of the national team.