K League 1 champion Ulsan reveals its first recruitment...National team ace Baek In-woo's blood transfusion by age → Lease Choi Seok-hyun returns
Dec 17, 2024
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Ulsan unveiled the recruitment of Baek In-woo and Choi Seok-hyun, who played in the national team by age on the 17th. Baek In-woo, a promising player who is 18 years old and is now starting his first professional career, will wear Ulsan's uniform as a free starter. He is a central midfielder with excellent personal skills and is regarded as a player who is good at connecting the team's offense and defense and playing smartly. Above all, he is a player who stands out even in the team's offensive situation due to his good kicking ability, including shooting.
Competition with prominent seniors is expected, but he is a player who has the potential to make his name known enough. Baek In-woo has already proved his competitiveness and growth potential by playing as the mainstay of the national team in last year's FIFA U-17 World Cup and AFC U-17 Asian Cup. In addition, he made a brilliant contribution to his team, Yongin Football Center U-18 Deok-young's 2023 national high school youth cup victory, once again impressing him as the best player of his age.
The joining of Baek In-woo is expected by Ulsan fans. It is a reunion with Kang Min-woo, the same age who scored the winning goal of Ulsan's first Asian Champions League Elite (ACLE) and the club's last goal of the season. Kang Min-woo scored with a header in the fourth minute of the U-17 Asian Cup quarterfinals held in Thailand. Since then, the two players have joined hands at the U-17 World Cup in Indonesia and made their names known to soccer fans.
Baek In-woo "I'll quickly figure out my role on this team and help the team. I want to be recognized by coaches, colleagues and fans with my skills without hiding from the benefits of the U-22 system"He expressed his determination.
Choi Seok-hyun, who played for Chungcheongbuk-do Cheongju FC for a year after joining Ulsan last year, also returned to Ulsan. Choi Seok-hyun, who made an impressive performance at the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup and made a remarkable contribution to the national team's advance to the semifinals, joined Ulsan the following year and transferred to Chungcheongbuk-do Cheongju in the K League 2 on loan to accumulate experience at the same time.
He spent his first professional season in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, and played a total of 16 K League 2 games. Choi Seok-hyun, who can play center back and right back, is a relatively small size at 1m81, but he is a player with activism and activity to overcome it. Choi Seok-hyun played only 16 games due to injury in the second half of the league, but he stood out as the team's young defensive resource. Choi Seok-hyun recorded the second highest attempt to compete in the air (3.4) per game in the team and the fourth highest successful interception (1.2) per game. This is also an indicator that reveals Choi Seok-hyun's strengths.
Choi Seok-hyun, who returned to Ulsan after about three years, said, `It's time to prove it. Since I spent my youth career here, I feel obligated to show better performance. I'll always be preparing with the thought that the opportunity can come anytime"I vowed.
The two players will join the team in earnest starting with the training camp in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on January 6 next year.
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