The Pohang Steelers have not worried about the under-22 (U-22) card for the past three years. This was because there was ‘little giant’ Go Young-jun (22). Pohang coach Kim Ki-dong, who is known for being picky about recruiting players, explained that Go Young-jun, a former member of Pohang Seonggol Youth, has the skills to be included in the starting lineup even if he is not a U-22 member. However, Ko Young-jun, born in 2001, will not be subject to the mandatory appearance conditions for U-22 players in the K-League after the 2023 season, which is raising controversy over its effectiveness and threatening college soccer. He turns 23 next year. Pohang also needs to insert a different U-22 card starting next year. But there is no big worry. Pohang is a ‘watershed’ of talent.
Hong Yun-sang, born in 2002, can last a year. Hong Yun-sang, like Go Young-jun, is also a member of ‘Seonggol Youth’, having gone through all of Pohang’s youth system from Pohang Jecheoldong Elementary School, Pohang Jecheol Middle School, and Pohang Jecheol High School. Hong Yun-sang, who left on loan to Wolfsburg in Germany immediately after joining Pohang after graduating from high school in 2021, transferred permanently that summer. He then went on loan to St. Pölten (Austria) and Nuremberg (Germany) to gain experience and returned to his ‘hometown’ Pohang this summer. Even before his K League debut, his impact was strong. In the match against Daejeon on the 20th of last month, he came on as a substitute in the 35th minute of the second half, and with the score tied at 3-3, he scored a spectacular goal just before the end of the game, making it 4-3 and giving the team 3 valuable points. On the 26th, in the away game against Gangwon, he scored the first goal in the 16th minute of the first half, recording two goals in a row.바카라사이트
It was a ‘double slope’. Even though he was not in 100% physical condition, he was selected as a replacement for the training list for the Olympic team and was given the Taegeuk symbol.
If Hong Yun-sang survives next year, Park Hyeong-woo, born in 2004, can use the U-22 card from 2025. Park Hyeong-woo, who was a key wing forward when Cheonan Jeil High School won three high school championships, including the National Sports Championship last year, made his dream K-League debut in the 29th round away game of K-League 1 against Incheon on the 2nd. He played the first 45 minutes that day. He was replaced by Kim Jong-woo as soon as the second half started. Park Hyung-woo is good at breaking through and penetrating using his instantaneous speed, and both of his shots are said to be powerful.
Coach Kim said, “It’s only been one year. It’s not easy for a 19-year-old player to show off in front of so many spectators. Still, he clearly did a lot to show what he had. He did what I asked him to do almost perfectly. We have to keep improving, “He is a player who needs to improve,” he said. Reporter Jinhoe Kim