Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham) wears the captain’s armband even under manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who was newly appointed as the head coach of the Korean national soccer team, selected Son Heung-min ahead of a friendly A match in March. Son Heung-min arrived at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 20th and immediately entered the Paju National Training Center (NFC).

On the morning of the 21st, Son Heung-min met with reporters at Paju NFC. Son Heung-min briefly replied, “I don’t know yet” when asked if he would continue as captain under the Klinsman manager system. Son Heung-min said, “I entered the hospital yesterday and only ate and slept. He didn’t have time to have a long talk with coach Klinsman.”

The national soccer team used to change captains every World Cup cycle. Son Heung-min took over the captaincy immediately after the 2018 World Cup in Russia and wore the captain’s armband at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. For reference, the 2018 Russia World Cup captain Ki Sung-yueng, the 2014 Brazil World Cup captain Koo Ja-cheol, the 2010 South Africa World Cup captain Park Ji-seong, the 2006 Germany World Cup captain Lee Un-jae, and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup captain Hong Myung-bo. 메이저놀이터

For this reason, the possibility was raised that coach Klinsman, who is preparing to advance to the 2026 World Cup finals, could appoint a new captain. However, an official from the national team said, “Coach Klinsman said he would continue to leave the captaincy to Son Heung-min. When all 25 people are summoned, I will officially take the captaincy in the presence of everyone.”

Klinsmann, who has just anchored, will play a friendly match against the Colombian national team at Munsu Stadium in Ulsan on the 24th. On the 28th, he will face the Uruguay national team at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. With captain Son Heung-min at the head, it is expected what kind of performance those who made their names in the first season of Klinsman will show under the new coaching system.