“Amazing news of the day: Junho, welcome home!”

Klinsmann congratulated Son Junho, who recently returned to South Korea from China.
Klinsmann, who stepped down from the South Korean national soccer team after the team’s Asian Cup quarterfinal exit, shared the news of Son’s return with Reuters on his X (formerly Twitter) account. The former coach responded to the news with the word “welcome” and a message of support.

In June of last year, when Klinsmann was in charge of South Korea, he made a notable inclusion of Son Jun-ho, who was detained by Chinese authorities at the time, in his A-match call-up list. Klinsmann made the remark at a press conference to announce the roster for the Hana Bank Invitational Football Team’s June friendly match at the Soccer Hall in Shinmun-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, at 9 a.m. on June 5 last year, 토토사이트 순위 when the final roster announcement was still being made in person rather than remotely.

“It’s quite heartbreaking (Son not making the team). We are constantly looking into it as a federation. We want to help him in any way we can, but we don’t know how he is mentally and physically. We need to pray and do everything we can to help him come home as soon as possible. (The inclusion of the national team roster) is important to let him know that we are with him during this difficult time and that we support him 100%. We will continue to help where we can as a federation.”

At the time, Klinsmann’s decision was applauded by many soccer fans. It was such a “managerial” move that some fans even considered it the best thing Klinsmann did during his tenure with the national team. The fact that Klinsmann continues to care about Son Jun-ho after stepping down as head coach of the South Korean national team makes it all the more impressive. Since stepping down as head coach, Klinsmann has been very active, recently resuming his ESPN panel in the United States.

Meanwhile, Son, who has been reunited with his family for the first time in 10 months, is reportedly in the process of getting in shape for a summer return. The national team players also expressed their happiness at the news of Son’s return, with Son Heung-min especially touching fans’ hearts with a message to the KFA camera after scoring a goal against Thailand.

Son, born in 1992, is the same age as Son Heung-min and has played in 20 A matches for South Korea, including three matches at the last World Cup in Qatar. He made his professional debut with the Pohang Steelers in 2014 and went on to win the 2020 K League 1 title with Jeonbuk Hyundai and was named the league MVP. Son married in 2018 and has one son and one daughter.