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'Next-generation striker'Lee Young-joon (21, Grashofer) is flying fast.
Lee Young-joon scored an offensive point in the eighth round of the Swiss Super League in the 2024-2025 season against Young Voice at Stadown Bancdorf in Bern, Switzerland on the 29th (Korea time). Lee Young-joon, who started, helped Giotto Morandi score the winning goal in the fourth minute of the first half. It was the first help of the season and the point of attack for two consecutive games since scoring against Cervette last time. Grashofer won 1-0 with Lee Young-joon's help. Grashofer, who won only one game in seven games since the opening, jumped to eighth place (8 points) at once by catching a formidable young voice.
Lee Young-joon also performed impressively on the day. According to the soccer statistics media 'Sofas Score', Lee Young-joon, who played 85 minutes, recorded one assist, 51 cheek touches, two key passes, 60% success rate of ground competition (3 out of 5), 59% (10 out of 17), and two fouls. Lee Young-joon, a target striker, has no choice but to continue to compete with his opponent's defenders in style, and it is certainly an encouraging record that he shows good indicators in ground and air competitions. Lee Young-joon received a 7.3 rating, the second highest in the team.
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Lee Young-joon's momentum is surprising. Lee Young-joon wore a Grashofer (Switzerland) uniform this summer. Lee Young-joon, a former Suwon Samsung Youth, made his professional debut at Suwon FC in 2021. Lee Young-joon, who served in the military at the Gimcheon Sangmu from 2023 to 2024, was evaluated as a `unfinished standby' with his confident build of 1m92-87kg. In the K-League, he did not leave a big mark, but he showed his power on the international stage. Following his strong performance at the U-20 World Cup last year, he also scored three goals at the U-23 Asian Cup.
Lee Young-joon came to the market after being discharged from the military. Amid love calls from overseas clubs such as Germany's Schalke 04 and Saudi RT Hard, which praised Lee Young-joon's possibility, Lee Young-joon held Grashofer's hand. He chose Grashofer, who promised steady opportunities to play, putting growth first. Following the transfer fee, the agreement between the clubs was completed as the agreement was reached on the clause 'Celon'. Sports director Stefan Schwarz of Grashofer "Lee Young-jun is a resource that fits exactly our requirements. Not only does he have great potential, but he is also a young player with proven skills."
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Lee Young-joon showed great performance from the first game. In a home game against Sion on the 25th of last month, he scored the first goal 42 seconds into the game. Lee Young-joon, who caught the ball at the corner of the penalty area during the development of Grashofer's attack that began with kickoff, accurately stabbed the bottom corner of the near post with a right foot shot in front of the defender. It was a score reminiscent of Robert Lewandowski of FC Barcelona's 'Special Striker'.
Lee Young-joon, who later started in an away game against Sport and made a soft landing, was honored to be selected as Grashofer 'August Player'. Grashofer said Lee won the first Player of the Month award with more than 30 percent of the vote, with Lee Young-joon, Morandi, Tuberth, and Mabili nominated. It was a splendid start. Lee Young-joon quickly scored his second goal, opening the era of success. In the match against Cervet on the 22nd, he scored an equalizer in the 9th minute of the second half and received an eight-point rating, the highest in his team.
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Lee Young-joon's strong performance is making A national team coach Hong Myung-bo smile. One of the concerns of national team A is the front line. While undecided striker Cho Kyu-sung (Mit Willan) is unable to return for the time being due to injury, another striker Hwang Ui-jo (Alanyaspor) is also unable to be selected as a representative due to privacy controversy. Joo Min-gyu (Ulsan) and Oh Se-hoon (Mancha) are coming forward, but they are not very satisfied. In particular, Joo Min-kyu (34) is too old to watch until the World Cup finals. Amid the need to find an alternative, Lee Young-joon is performing a show of force by launching a scoring shot every day. In particular, coach João Aroso, who plays the role of the head of the European branch office in charge of European inspection and management, observed Lee Young-joon's performance himself.
Coach Hong said at a press conference to announce the A-match list on September 26th that coach Aroso, who newly joined Hong Myung-bo, and coach Maia Chiagu, the tactical analysis coach, will be more actively involved in selecting players in the future. As Lee Young-joon is competitive on the European stage with coach Aroso watching, chances are high that he will be selected as Hong Myung-bo in a surprise move during the A match in October. The national team will play the third and fourth rounds of the third qualifying round against Jordan (away) on the 10th and Iraq (home) on the 15th of next month.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
