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| Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung, who were born in 1992. Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| Lee Jae-sung Video Interview |
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Do you think they're at the right age to spend their prime. Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), who is now a veteran of the national team, is receiving tremendous praise for his outstanding performance in the first half of the German Bundesliga in the 2024-2025 season. Lee Jae-sung, who scored six goals in 29 games in the Bundesliga last season, scored five goals in 14 games this season, boasting the fastest attack point speed in his career. In 2024, he became the irreplaceable core of Hong Myung-bo, with the most games (17 games) and the most goals (4 goals) in the calendar year. Looking back on the first half of the year, it was a very grateful moment. It was a time when I felt the charm of soccer again, and it was the first half of the year when I was confident that I could move on to a high place, smiling with satisfaction.
The highlight of 2024 was a match against Bayern Munich on 14 December last year at Meva Arena in Mainz, Germany. He scored one goal each in the first half and two goals in the second half against Munich, which had been unbeaten in the league since the opening, giving him a surprise 2-1 victory. It was an achievement obtained by drilling through Munich center back Kim Min-jae twice, a teammate of the national team. Lee Jae-sung, who picked the match against Munich as his most memorable match in 2024, said, `I was happy that I scored multiple goals and won against Munich, the best team in the world. There was a moment when I intersected with (Kim) Min-jae, who looked sad after scoring. I scored a goal and was so excited that I couldn't care less"After the game, I briefly talked with Min-jae and Hong Hyun-seok (Mines). Min-jae jokingly complained that he wanted to play in a team that played hard like Mainz. Min-jae is doing well after fierce competition in a global team, so it's good to see. I hope you will continue to shine Korean soccer in a good way in the future."
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| photo capture=Lee Jae-sung blog |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| AFP Yonhap News |
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| Lee Jae-sung (left), who handles aerial balls against Bayern Munich, and the heat map for the entire 2024-2025 season (right). Source = Mainz SNS, sofa score |
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Mainz, who stayed in the lower ranks at the beginning of the season, finished the first half in fifth place with a major rebound of five wins in the last six games. In the Bundesliga, the first to fourth places will advance to the European Champions League, and the fifth place will go to the European Europa League. Lee Jae-sung, who made his professional debut in Jeonbuk in 2014 and entered the European stage by joining Germany's second division Holstein Kiel in 2018, has achieved his dream of entering the European big league by joining Mainz from 2021, but has no experience in competing in European clubs yet. Lee Jae-sung's goal was naturally set to the Champions League. Lee Jae-sung said, `I didn't expect to finish the first half in such a good order. I'm getting more greedy. I really want to prepare well for the second half and advance to the European competition. If I play, I think it will be fun to play against teams from other countries such as England and Spain." The individual goal was set as a double-digit score in the league for the first time in his career.
After failing to win the Asian Cup in 2024, Lee Jae-sung kept his second term in the national team without wavering while four national team coaches (including temporary ones) took the helm. In October, he scored consecutive goals with only the header 'hidden organs' in the two consecutive games against Jordan (2-0 wins) and Iraq (3-2 wins), leading the national team to a winning streak. Lee Jae-sung, who has scored seven out of 18 goals (2 goals this season) in the Bundesliga after the 2022-2023 season, said "There is no secret." I just scored with a header thanks to a good cross from my teammate." Lee Jae-sung, who played in 94 A matches, is expected to join the Century Club in the second half of this year, which marks the 10th anniversary of his A national team debut. Lee Jae-sung said, `When I joined Jeonbuk from the university, I wondered if I would survive professionally. But now he is a member of the national team and has been playing in Europe for a long time. I want to give a perfect score to my career"The Century Club is a dream moment. I think it would be an honor. But the last 94 games, every game, every game, is precious to me."
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| Sportschosun DB |
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| Sportschosun DB |
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| photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association |
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He has become a veteran who is 32 years old, and it is difficult to find a player older than Lee Jae-sung in his team or the national team. Lee Jae-sung is in his 12th year as a professional. Senior, I'm hearing that my friends are retiring. As a soccer player, I feel a little bit that I don't have much time left. Still, I don't think my career is at the end of the second half, and given my unchanging love of soccer and physical condition, I think I've just started the second half." 'Beautiful finish' is of course contemplating. Lee Jae-sung said, `I want to go back to Jeonbuk, where I raised my dream, and wrap it up. I want to put down the soccer myself, not because of the injury" said the wind. Numerous juniors, including his teammate Hong Hyun-seok, are challenging the European stage one after another. Lee Jae-sung said, `I'm glad Hyun-seok is on the same team. Whether you're playing pranks or saying nice things, I'm helping you adjust well. I'm trying to become a senior that my juniors can learn from"When I first went to the K-League personally, I needed time to adapt when I came to Mainz. show one's best self When you go to Europe, you can lose your self-esteem, so you have to develop your inner self well in case that happens. That way, you can withstand competition well for a long time. For Hyun-seok (who has difficulty playing in the game), all players including me did. I want to tell you, 'Don't be discouraged.'"
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
