As the possibility of a head-to-head match in the K-League between Hwang Eui-jo and Cho Kyu-seong, two strikers competing for the starting position in the national team, is drawing attention from soccer fans.
Hwang Ui-jo is in an urgent situation to find a team he can play right now. Hwang Eui-jo signed a contract with Premier League Nottingham Forest from Girondins Bordeaux in France Ligue 1 in August last year. However, immediately after that, the owner moved on loan to Olympiacos in Greece.
As it showed a proven performance in France, one of Europe’s top five leagues, it was expected that it would adapt smoothly to Greece, which has a low league status, but things have been twisted since then. Hwang Ui-jo, who had a setback in preparation for the season due to delays in transfer negotiations, had difficulty improving his physical condition and fell into a slump. Hwang Ui-jo played only 12 official games (3 starting games) at Olympiacos this season, and scored only one assist and did not score a single goal. Recently, he was pushed out of the main competition altogether.
In the end, Hwang Ui-jo left Olympiacos after half a year and is looking for a new team. But he can’t play in Europe anymore, at least not this season. According to FIFA rules, a player can only play in official matches for a maximum of two teams in a season. Since Hwang Ui-jo had already played 2 matches with Bordeaux before transferring, if he leaves Olympiacos, he will not be able to play even with his original team, Nottingham.
Hwang Eui-jo has received several offers from Japan’s J-League and American professional soccer (MLS) clubs, but is known to be considering going to the K-League on a short-term loan considering returning to Europe as a priority. Currently, K-League FC Seoul, which is aiming to reinforce the offensive line, is being discussed as the most active and promising candidate for Hwang Eui-jo.
National team midfielder Hwang In-beom, who currently plays with Hwang Eui-jo at Olympiacos, left Rubin Kazan (Russia) last year and signed a short-term three-month contract with Seoul to maintain a sense of game and condition, and then entered the Greek league again. Like Hwang In-beom, Hwang Ui-jo is expected to go through a short-term contract of 5 to 6 months and return to Nottingham this summer when the European transfer market opens up or pursue another transfer to another European club.
Hwang Ui-jo played for Seongnam FC until 2017 before entering the overseas stage. If Hwang Ui-jo gets to wear the Seoul uniform, he is returning to the K-League after 6 years. Seoul, which has received less than expected results for the past three years, is in a state of massive recruitment, shouting ‘reconstruction of the famous family’ for the new season. 먹튀검증 In particular, the key topic is reinforcement of offense, which ranked 11th out of 12 teams with 43 points in 38 league matches last season. If foreign player Willian and veteran Im Sang-hyeop are added to the attacking team, which previously relied on Ilyuchenko, and Hwang Ui-jo, the national team’s main striker, are added, it is literally building the strongest window in the K-League.
If Hwang Eui-jo returns to the K-League, above all, the competition for the top scorer with his national teammate and competitor Cho Kyu-seong is expected to be a big highlight in the K-League next season. Following last year’s K-League top scorer, FA Cup championship and MVP, Cho Kyu-seong had the best year ever by scoring multiple goals for the first time in the history of a Korean player in the World Cup against Ghana at the Qatar World Cup. Also, after the World Cup, Kyu-Sung Cho became the best beneficiary of the World Cup, with his social media following rapidly increasing and receiving tremendous attention from domestic and foreign media.