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"I was worried that I wouldn't be selected for the national team...."
Paik Seung-ho's re-signing with Birmingham City was revealed. Birmingham announced on its official website on the 7th (Korea time) that it has signed an extension contract with Baek Seung-ho. The contract period is until June 2028. Birmingham said he deserves to renew his contract given that Paik has made such an impressive start that he was excluded from the game for only two minutes this season. Baek Seung-ho said, `I'm really happy to re-sign with Birmingham. Since the start of the new season, we feel like we can do something really big. If you look at what we do every day, the way we play every game, people say we're moving forward. I felt it was good in my football career to finish here."
Baek Seung-ho wore a Birmingham City uniform last January. Baek Seung-ho, who wanted to re-enter Europe, held Birmingham's hand. Baek Seung-ho quickly established himself as Birmingham's main midfielder. He scored one goal in 18 league games.
Baek Seung-ho started this season as England's third wife 'League One'. Birmingham failed to overcome two 'supervision risks' in the 2023-2024 Championship and remained 22nd out of 24 teams, eventually being relegated to the third division. At the beginning of the season, the head of the team suddenly replaced the coach, and former coach Tony Mowbray, who was actively involved in recruiting Baek Seung-ho in January, led just eight games and left to receive treatment. Birmingham failed to rebound under interim supervision.
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Baek Seung-ho sought to change through the summer transfer market. He decided that he had to leave the third division for two goals, the bigger stage of Europe, the steady selection of the national team, and the goal. Baek Seung-ho, who showed stable ball handling ability between central and defensive midfielders in Birmingham last season, was a "popular guy" among championship clubs such as Leeds, Sheffield, Hull City, and Stoke City. A team that made a love call also appeared in the German Bundesliga.
In particular, Leeds, which is seeking to re-promote the Premier League, has set a transfer fee of 2 million pounds (about 3.5 billion won). He was quite active in recruiting Baek Seung-ho, even adjusting his personal conditions in advance. Leeds manager was Daniel Farke, who promoted Norwich to the EPL twice. The picture of going into the EPL with Leeds was ideal. For Birmingham, it was also an opportunity to spend six months on a player brought in 'free' and sell it for '3.5 billion'.
But Birmingham did not fall for the temptation of £2 million. Birmingham was acquired by U.S. Capital (Shelby Companities Limited) in July last year. U.S. Super Bowl star Tom Brady took over a portion of the stake. Management made bold investments after the team was relegated to the third division. He poured a whopping £15 million (estimated) into recruiting striker Jay Stansfield from EPL club Fulham. It was a new record for a transfer fee to the third division of England, which far exceeded the £4 million that Sunderland spent when recruiting Will Greek, who played for Wigan, in 2019.
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Birmingham surprised the British soccer community by investing more than £30 million just in recruiting players such as Stansfield, centre-back Christophe Klerer and midfielder Willum Thor Willumson. Tomoki Iwato, a Japanese midfielder who played for Scotland's prestigious Celtic team, also had him. Birmingham, which aims to be promoted to the EPL two years later as the case of Ipswich Town, which has been 'straight forward' from the third division to the EPL, was not a big amount of money for Baek Seung-ho. Baek Seung-ho's performance was needed rather than the immediate profit.
Coach Chris Davis, who was newly appointed in June, also considered Baek Seung-ho as a key midfielder and started all of them after the opening. It is encouraging to be favored by the director. Leeds, which failed to recruit Baek Seung-ho, recruited Tanaka Ao from Japan. The Telegraph's Mike McGress, who watched the process, said on Football League World, `The player I was most surprised by in this transfer market was Paik Seung-ho"His performance in League One so far exceeds this level. You can also easily get into the championship team. Honestly, I can also play in the English Premier League. So it's amazing that he stays."
Baek Seung-ho made it clear that he would continue his career in Birmingham by renewing his contract following his stay. It is not just an extension of the contract period. Birmingham reportedly reached an agreement by raising the salary to the club's highest level. Birmingham's high-paid players, who are known to have the strongest finances in the English League One (division 3), are among the top in the league. This is a glimpse of how highly Birmingham values Baek Seung-ho. If a club offers a set transfer fee, it has also set up a buyout that can be transferred without negotiation.
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Baek Seung-ho did not sign a long-term contract because of conditions such as a long-term contract and annual salary. The club's ambitious plan to be promoted to the English Premier League within two years and the full trust of Birmingham coach Chris Davis reportedly moved Baek Seung-ho's heart. Baek Seung-ho started all nine games played by the team, contributing to the team's lead.
There is one more reason. Paik appeared on Birmingham's `Blues TV" and said, `Birmingham demotion is something that my family is also sad about. If he becomes a third-division player, he may not be able to play for the national team. I was really worried about the situation." However, contrary to concerns, Baek Seung-ho succeeded in boarding the Hong Myung-bo team in October to play in the third and fourth Asian qualifiers for the 2026 North-China World Cup against Jordan and Iraq. Baek Seung-ho said, `The national team is due to the club, coaching staff, and teammates. They make me a better player. Helped for easier play. The national team's selection is all thanks to Birmingham."
Baek Seung-ho was suspended for three years by FIFA in 2013 when he was a FC Barcelona youth, and he suffered ups and downs in the process of joining Jeonbuk in 2021, such as being embroiled in an unnecessary agreement controversy. Ahead of important international competitions, he has been injured repeatedly. Baek Seung-ho, who achieved a career rebound with the gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year and re-entered the European stage, intends to take the process slowly.
vanbasten@sportschosun.com
