Among the 22 final entries for men’s soccer at the Asian Games, there are three wild cards that can be selected regardless of age limit. Looking back at past Asian Games, the color of the medals would change depending on who was selected as a wild card. This means that it is an important position. However, a player who has never worn the Taegeuk symbol across all age-group national teams is participating in the Asian Games as a wild card and the most senior member of the national team. This is the story of Park Jin-seop (28, Jeonbuk), a ‘multi-talented player’ who has experience playing as an attacker, midfielder, and defender on the professional stage.
Jinseop Park was actually an almost unknown player until a few years ago. Not only has he never been named to the national team or the age group team, but he also debuted in the professional soccer K-League 1 (division 1) last year for the first time at the age of 27.카지노사이트
Park Jin-seop’s soccer life was not smooth from the start. He pursued joining Daejeon Citizen (now Daejeon Hana Citizen) in 2017, the year after completing his third year at university (Digital Seoul College of Culture and Arts), but suffered the pain of having his plans to go professional go awry due to a sudden change in coach. Ultimately, he failed to advance directly to the professional ranks and signed a contract with Daejeon KORAIL of the National League (currently K3 League), a third-tier league.
Park Jin-seop, who showed consistent performance with his unique sincerity as a weapon, caught the attention of coach Lee Heung-sil, who led the Ansan Greeners of the K League 2 (Second Division), and succeeded in entering the professional ranks in one year. Playing as a striker until then, he scored his first goal in his professional debut against Seoul E-Land FC in April 2018. However, he was increasingly used as a midfielder, and with his vigorous activity and tough fighting skills, he became one of the best defensive midfielders in the league. Finally, two years later, in 2020, he switched to a corporate club and proudly transferred to Daejeon Hana Citizen, which was his first season. It was even more meaningful because it was a team that had suffered the pain of failing to join three years ago.
Park Jin-seop’s evolution is not over. Last year, wearing the uniform of Jeonbuk, the strongest team in K League 1, he changed his position to center back again. He was often used as a center back due to the team’s lack of defenders, and he saved the team from crisis several times with his fighting defense. As a result, he was recognized as the best defender in Korea by being selected in the K League 1 Best 11 Defenders category at the K League Awards last year.
Park Jin-seop, who showed limitless growth while changing positions from attacker to midfielder and then from midfielder to defender, was named as a wild card in the final roster for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games announced by coach Hwang Seon-hong in July this year and will wear the Taegeuk symbol for the first time. done. Park Jin-seop said, “As the eldest brother, I received instructions from the coach to pay attention to the organizational aspects of defense. As the wild card position is important, I will lead my juniors well.”
At the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, the previous Asian Games, Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Hwang Ui-jo (Norwich), and Cho Hyun-woo (Ulsan) played a decisive role in winning the gold medal as wild cards. Four years earlier, at the 2014 Incheon Games, Kim Shin-wook (Kichi), Kim Seung-gyu (Al-Shabab), and Park Joo-ho (retired) contributed to the championship. Regarding the assessment that it lacks weight compared to previous wild cards, Park Jin-seop said, “It is something we are aware of,” but added, “(Other wild cards) Baek Seung-ho and Seol Young-woo are doing well in the league. “I think we can achieve good results if we prepare well with existing players,” he pledged.
Meanwhile, Hwang Seon-hong, who is preparing for the Hangzhou Asian Games that opens on the 23rd, will travel to China on the 16th to play the first match of Group E against Kuwait (8:30 p.m. on the 19th, Korean time).