Isn't young a government post? Lee Jung-hoo's suggestion to change the generation of the national team → Director Ryu Ji-hyun, are you watching?
Feb 18, 2025
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Lee Jung-hoo, who is holding a spring camp in Arizona, USA, met with our reporters on the 16th (Korea time) and insisted that the national team needs new and old harmony. South Korea formed an average age of 24 national team in the Premier 12 last year and was humiliated by being eliminated from the group stage. Veteran players such as Ryu Hyun-jin (38, Hanwha), Kim Kwang-hyun (37, SSG), Yang Hyun-jong (37, KIA), and Kang Min-ho (40, Samsung) were excluded.
Lee Jung-hoo emphasized that experienced seniors are essential. Lee Jung-hoo "When I watched Premier 12 last year, the generational change was complete. However, I don't think it should be composed mainly of young players. Young players get excited when they're in the mood, but there's no player to lead them when they're subdued."
Of course, there is no answer. KBO targeted 2026 WBC and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics at the time. Three years later, Kim Kwang-hyun and Yang Hyun-jong, who were born in 1988, will also be 40. Fostering successors is also essential. However, Lee Jung-hoo argues that he should not be excluded just because he is old. If your skills are the best even if you are over 40 years old, you should pick one. Right now, Kang Min-ho won the catcher Golden Glove at the age of 39 last season.
Lee Jung-hoo said, `The national team is not a place to gain experience, but a place where the best performers of the year go and fight for our country's name. Even though there is a senior who performed well, a young player should not go out in the name of a generational change."
Korean baseball has not had a decent performance in recent international competitions. It has been downhill ever since the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal and the 2009 WBC runner-up. In the WBC, he was eliminated in the first round for three consecutive tournaments. Japan only saved face by winning four consecutive gold medals at the Asian Games, where it does not play professionals.
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Lee Jung-hoo voiced his opinion that Korea should also start with the formation of the national team realistically. Lee Jung-hoo said, `The national team should be in harmony. We need a senior player to center us, and we also need a young player with a lot of grit. This must be harmonized to make a good team. "If you take out all the national team, the club, or the veteran and fill in the position with a young player, the player will feel burdened," he diagnosed.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
