Director Lee Min-sung shared a behind-the-scenes story that Hwang In-beom’s assistance helped recruit Lee Soon-min.
Daejeon Hana Citizen is sweating profusely ahead of the opening of the 2024 season. After finishing the first training camp in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, the team held the second camp in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Since then, the last-minute tempered for the new season has been in full swing since February 3 after setting up a base camp in Kagoshima, Japan.
In particular, Daejeon participated in the BIDV Invitation Hana Play Cup, a friendly tournament sponsored by its parent Hana Bank and BIDV Bank, a state-run commercial bank in Vietnam, and was able to focus on the same training as the actual game.
Daejeon played against Vietnam’s Viettel FC and Hanoi FC, as well as Indonesia’s Bali United and won the championship.
Usually, off-season training focuses on improving physical strength and tactics, but participating in the competition was a rather unusual case.
“It was kind of unfamiliar. Despite being in Vietnam, the unusually cold weather and the infrastructure of the training site were variables, but it was a unique experience. If the competition grows in size, it will be good for the team. In addition, I think we can feel the effect of the off-season training even more. It was possible because it was a team called Daejeon. The performance was better than expected,” Lee said, expressing his satisfaction.
“We conducted practice matches through the third training session in Kagoshima, Japan. The players are having a hard time because they train twice a day. However, it is time for them to play the soccer they want. We have to refine the details,” he added.
Daejeon came back to the K-League 1 last season. Many expressed concern over the team. However, the team shook off the victory as a result. It proved its competitiveness by winning victories over big clubs including Ulsan HD and Jeonbuk Hyundai and served as a pepper shaker. It also garnered achievement by prematurely staying in the team.
Daejeon has grand goals for the upcoming season. He is aiming to participate in the AFC Champions League (ACL).
“I only think about ACLs. In fact, some of them were set because of fans. Incheon United fans looked envious of Marinos away from Yokohama. I also felt sorry for Daejeon fans. I really want to achieve this season,” Lee said.
After setting the goal of ACL, Daejeon accelerated its efforts to strengthen its power. It strengthened its squad by recruiting the right players. In particular, it had Lee Soon-min, a midfielder of the national team.
Lee Soon-min was at the core of Gwangju FC’s sensation in the last season. He showed off his presence through gritty play in the midfield. He joined the national team and is currently participating in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup led by coach Jürgen Klinsmann. He has naturally become a target for many teams. The winner of the recruitment war was Daejeon.
Daejeon’s recruitment of Lee Soon-min had an assistant. It was Hwang In-beom, a teammate of the national team.
Hwang In-beom was from Daejeon and reportedly gave advice to Lee Soon-min. In the end, it became a fitting strategy.
Hwang In-beom is from Daejeon and is known to have actively encouraged his teammate Lee Soon-min to move to his former team.
Director Lee Min-seong said he had a phone call with Hwang In-beom and asked, “Can you tell him? He served as a bridge.”
He then expressed satisfaction, saying, “The Power Enhancement Department actively moved to recruit Lee Soon-min. In particular, Hwang In-beom served as an assistant.”
At the same time, “There was no midfielder fighting in the midfield last season with so much energy. I wanted to recruit Lee Soon-min so much. We are planning to form a midfield around it. As he joins the team, Joo Se-jong can easily show better play,” he said, expressing expectations. 마카오토토주소
Head coach Lee Min-sung is in the last-minute quenching ahead of the opening of the new season, but it is regrettable that Lee Soon-min, who left for the Asian Cup, is absent.
“I had a phone call with (Lee) Soon-min. I earnestly asked him not to be hurt even if he could not play in the game and to join me in normal condition. I urged him not to get hurt.”