Baek Seung-ho played his second game since the transfer. He seems to be adapting quickly to the team.
Birmingham City lost 0-2 to Sheffield Wednesday in the 31st round of the English Football League Championship (EFL Championship, Second Division) for the 2023-23 season at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, at 5 a.m. on the 10th (Korea time). The loss will put Birmingham in 19th place, having lost three consecutive league games.
Baek Seung-ho has been named as a substitute. Baek moved to Birmingham last month. “We are happy to recruit Baek Seung-ho, who was loved by many teams in England and Europe. The contract period is until June 2026,” Birmingham officially announced on its website on April 30.
Baek Seung-ho said, “I’m really happy and looking forward to being a member of Birmingham. I can’t wait to get started. One of my dreams since I started watching soccer as a child was to play soccer in England. I was really happy to hear that Birmingham was interested in me. I’ve known the team since I was young, and after meeting the coach, I decided to transfer.”
The first official interview was held with the club. Baek Seung-ho shared various stories ranging from his career to his experience at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Baek Seung-ho said, “I learned a lot about technology and how to play the game in Spain (Barcelona, Girona). I also learned how to get closer to my teammates and become one with my team. Germany (Darmstadt) was a little more physical. But I learned a lot in both Spain and Germany. It was a great experience.” “It was a great experience (to play in the World Cup). It was like a dream for a player to play in the World Cup, and to me, it was like a dream. It is the best experience I can get as a player.”
There is a reason why Baek Seung-ho, who was connected to various clubs, chose Birmingham. It was Tony Mowbray’s aggressive courtship. “Coach Tony Mowbray talked with me about my style, how to use it in the stadium, and plans for the future, and everything was good. Although I have experienced various stages, the most important thing for me is my relationship with the coach. I felt very comfortable talking with him and it motivated me to come to Birmingham. This is the biggest reason.”
Baek Seung-ho had high expectations as he grew up in Barcelona Youth with Lee Seung-woo and Jang Gyeol-hee. However, due to Barcelona’s disciplinary action, he could not afford to play at a time when he needed to grow up. Eventually, Baek gained experience at various clubs including Girona, Peralada, and Darmstadt.
He has also played in Korea. Baek Seung-ho challenged himself by moving to Jeonbuk Hyundai in the K-League 1 in 2021. He gradually elevated his form and became the center of Jeonbuk’s midfield, and won the gold medal at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. He moved to the club this winter and will join the Birmingham team.
After Baek Seung-ho moved to Birmingham, strong reinforcements gave him strength. They are legendary Korean female player Cho So-hyun and main striker Choi Yuri. Cho So-hyun (formerly Tottenham Hotspur W) and Choi Yuri (formerly Incheon Hyundai Steel) joined Birmingham W side by side in September last year and successfully made a soft landing. 꽁머니
Choi welcomed in English, “Hi Seung-ho! Welcome to Birmingham City,” and Cho So-hyun welcomed in Korean, “You’ll probably like it when you’re here. Let’s see!” Baek Seung-ho thanked his fans in the comments, and Korean fans were pleased, saying, “You’re supporting me, right?” “Please take care of Seung-ho,” and “I’ll adapt well because of you.”