What's going on with the next generation of superstars for the national team? Unfortunate Career High for 2 consecutive years, on the verge of being relegated to the third division

Feb 27, 2025

사진=스토크

Bae Jun-ho is competing in the relegation zone for two consecutive seasons.

Stoke City lost 1-3 to Middlesbrough in the 31st round of the English Championship (second division) in the 2024-2025 season at BET365 Stadium in Stoke, England on the 26th (Korea time). No. 20 Stoke failed to move up the rankings.

Stoke gave up the first run in the 19th minute when he missed Marcus Fors. Stoke often had a run crisis as he continued to give Middlesbrough the atmosphere, but fortunately, there were no additional runs.

Stoke needed a goal to change the atmosphere of the game. Bae Joon-ho came forward himself. In the 45th minute of the first half, Andrew Moran hit the penalty box from the right and gave up a cutback to the center, and the pass was directed to Bae Joon-ho, who participated in the attack from the center. Bae Jun-ho hit the net with a non-stop shot. Bae Joon-ho, who scored his first goal of the season against Swansea City on the 16th, has scored two goals in three games.

사진=스토크

Bae Joon-ho's counterattack gave Stoke hope, but it didn't last long. Stoke gave Finn Azaz another run in the seventh minute of the second half to give him the lead. In the 27th minute of the second half, Tommy Conway also allowed a goal and it collapsed. Bae Joon-ho struggled in the second half, but he could not prevent his team's defeat.

Bae Joon-ho is improving his scoring ability in the second half of the season, but what's really regrettable is that Stoke is only competing for the relegation zone for the second consecutive season. In the 2023-2024 season, which was Bae Joon-ho's first season in Europe, Stoke sought to be promoted to the English Premier League (EPL), but Stoke was disastrous.

It fell to the front of the relegation zone and revived at the end of the season, finishing 17th in the league. There seems to be plenty of room because it was 17th in the relegation system from 22nd to 24th, but it was only six points clear of 22nd-placed Birmingham City.

This season, Stoke called for promotion again, but he is as miserable as last season. It is only five points behind Plymouth Argyle, who is ranked 22nd. Looking at the recent atmosphere alone, it is not much different from Plymouth, so it has become more important than ever to accumulate points.

Courtesy of the Korea Football Association

Bae Joon-ho scored two goals and five assists in the league in his debut season, but he has already scored two goals and five assists this season. It will be a career high season with just one more offensive point added. There is no guarantee that Stoke will not be relegated, so Bae Jun-ho should continue to perform well. This is because we have to prepare for when Stoke is relegated. If Bae Joon-ho shines alone in Stoke, he can seek a transfer even if he experiences relegation.

Already last season, when Bae Jun-ho emerged as a stalk ace, he was interested in several EPL clubs and Feyenoord, where Hwang In-beom currently plays, after the season ended. Even in the upcoming summer, the clubs may be interested in Bae again.

Even if Stoke is not demoted, Bae Jun-ho needs to seek a transfer if he is likely to continue competing in the relegation zone. In order to choose such a direction, the remaining performance in the second half is more important.