Aug 11 (Reuters) – Asian Champions League-winning coach Kim Do-hoon has left Singapore’s Lion City Sailors by mutual consent, the club announced on Thursday.
Kim, who led South Korea’s Ulsan Hyundai to the Asian title in 2020, joined the Singaporean side in May 2021 and captained the Sailors to the Singapore Premier League title last year.
His departure comes a day after he was suspended for three matches and fined 2,000 Singapore dollars ($1,461) for his involvement in a clash with Tampines Rovers assistant coach Mustafic Fahrudin last month.
Join now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
“Lion City Sailors and Head Coach Kim Do-hoon have reached a mutual agreement to part ways,” the club said in a statement posted on their website.
“We thank him for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavours.”
Kim’s appointment was seen as a major boost for the ambitious Singaporean club, which is looking to establish itself in the elite of Asian football.
The former international striker took Sailors to the Asian Champions League for the first time in April, with the club claiming victories over South Korea’s Daegu FC and Chinese club Shandong Taishan in the group stage.
Technical director Luka Lalic will take over from Kim on an interim basis, with the Sailors holding a one-point lead at the top of the standings.
($1 = 1.3688 Singapore dollars)
Join now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com
Reporting by Michael Church in Hong Kong, editing by Pritha Sarkar
Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.