SPORTS Friday, June 16, 2017 23 SKorea axe Stielike

Seoulafter27 victories, also a national Qatar shocktoffees, a Korean insult, upon South Korea play Iran and outh Korea axed coach record. returning winless from that then Uzbekistan in their final Uli Stielike yesterday after But Tuesday’s 3-2 reverse year’s World Cup in Brazil. two games in August and Sa shock defeat to Qatar left in , South Korea’s first Just months later he led September. their World Cup qualification loss to Qatar in 32 years, left them to the Asian Cup final Only the top two in each hanging in the balance. them in danger of missing -- without conceding a single of Groups A and B qualify Stielike, who has been in direct qualification for Russia goal en route -- before they automatically for Russia, with charge since 2014, paid the 2018. went down 2-1 to hosts the third-placed teams going price for a run of poor results Lee Yong-Soo, chairman Australia in . into play-offs. including qualifying defeats to of the Korean Football Stielike also led South South Korean media have China and Iran. Association, also resigned in Korea to victory at the East speculated about possible The 62-year-old German a shake-up ahead of South Asia Cup seven months later. replacements including Huh was South Korea’s final two qualifying But trouble set in during Jung-Moo, who led the team to Korea’s games. Asia’s final round of World the last 16 at the 2010 longest “As the results of the final Cup qualifiers, especially World Cup, and serving World Cup qualification when they went down 1-0 to Under- coach round did not meet our China in March -- only their 20s coach and he expectation, the KFA and second loss to the Chinese in Shin Tae- led the coach Stielike decided to 32 games. Young. team end Stielike’s contract under He had been widely t o mutual agreement,” said Lee expected to go after Tuesday’s after a meeting in . Qatar’s Mohammed Kasoala (L) and South Korea’s Han loss to Qatar, which left “We spoke with Stielike Kookyoung vie for the ball South Korea clinging to and notified him before likely select a South Korean Toffee turnaround the second automatic the press conference. coach is because there is too Stielike’s sacking completed qualifying spot in Stielike said that little time for a new foreign a fall from grace for a man Group A. he respects any coach to understand the once dubbed “God-tielike” South Korea decision reached characteristics of each player,” by South Korean fans for his are seeking to by the technical Lee told reporters after the successes after taking the helm qualify for their committee,” he meeting. in September 2014. ninth consecutive added. “The most important task During his 33-month World Cup, a Lee said Stielike for the next coach will be to reign, the former Real Madrid run which includes would probably be boost the players’ morale and chalked up a record reaching the semi-finals replaced by a South building up a new team. We 27 wins as well as five draws on home soil in 2002. Korean coach, explaining time only have a year until the and seven defeats. They remain second in South Korea’s head coach Uli was too short for a foreigner Russia World Cup but... that Stielike was appointed in Group A, seven points behind Stielike reacts on the sidelines Qatar’s head coach to get to know the team. is enough time to build up a September 2014, after South already-qualified Iran but during the World Cup 2018 Jorge Fossati “The reason that we will new team,” he said. Korea had been pelted with just one ahead of Uzbekistan. Asia qualifying football match

Christiansen Jesus avoids surgery on eye socket Sharapova invited named new London me, sent positive vibes and anchester City’s prayed for me. “Thank to WTA Stanford Brazilian star striker you to Dr Jorge Pagura, Leeds manager MGabriel Jesus says he will Dr Claudio Lotemberg and Los Angeles London not need surgery on his Dr Sergio Miranda, for the ive-time grand ormer Spanish international right eye socket which was treatment and attention.” slam champion Thomas Christiansen is the fractured by team-mate Jesus made a strong FMaria Sharapova Fnew manager of fallen English Nicolas Otamendi. impact at City upon his has received an football giants Leeds United. The 20-year-old Brazil arrival in January, scoring invitation to play at The 44-year-old -- born in international had to go off three goals in his first the WTA Stanford Denmark but who qualified after the accidental collision three appearances before tournament at the to play for Spain through his with Argentina defender suffering a broken bone in end of next month Spanish mother -- replaces Otamendi in a match in his foot that sidelined him as the Russian star Garry Monk, who shocked the , Australia, last for two months. continues her return club by rejecting a new contract Friday. City manager Pep from a doping Sharapova last month. Christiansen, However, he felt Guardiola labelled him suspension. who played for Spanish side sufficiently cheered by the “special” and suggested Sharapova’s comeback from a 15-month doping Villarreal and German outfit assessment of the medical the club might have been ban will include a stop at Stanford University for the Hannover 96, impressed in his staff to go public with the fighting for the title rather July 31-August 6 event, organizers announced on spell as manager of Cypriot news on Thursday. than scrapping for a Wednesday. team APOEL and guided them “Yesterday I did a facial Champions League place Officials gave the 30-year-old Sharapova a wildcard to the title last season as well resonance, several exams Brazilian player Gabriel Jesus had he been available all entry as she gets set to compete in the tournament for as the last 16 of the Europa and I have good news! My season. With pre-season the first time six years. League. recovery is going very well but all signs show that I will be training still a few weeks “I am excited to return to the Bank of the West However, he was released and I won’t need surgery,” he back within three weeks! away, Guardiola will hope Jesus Classic and would like to thank the tournament for by APOEL last month and wrote on Facebook. “Thanks a lot to everyone that will be back in time for the US tour giving me the opportunity to play,” Sharapova said. becomes Leeds’ eighth manager “In 15 days I will be reassessed sent me messages, who supported which begins in July. Former world number one Victoria Azarenka is since May 2014. also in the 28-player singles draw.