“I think time is flying, it’s already been four or five months since I arrived….”
National team striker Hwang Ui-jo said he can feel the end of his contract with FC Seoul fast approaching, but he avoided making a definite statement about his future destination.
Hwang wryly smiled when asked about his future by reporters after FC Seoul’s 1-0 home win over Gangwon FC in the 15th round of the Hana One Q K League 2023 at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Monday.
“I have about a month left (on my contract),” Hwang said, “but I don’t know where I’m going. My first goal is to make Seoul a team that can compete at a high level. I want to get into the habit of winning and give people the perception that Seoul is a really scary team.”
After playing for Nottingham Forest (England) and being loaned to Olympiakos (Greece), Hwang’s place in the team was limited and he was looking for a new team, but FIFA rules only allow him to move to a league that operates on a spring and fall schedule.
Hwang joined Seoul on a “six-month short-term loan” ahead of this winter’s training camp in Japan, marking his return to the K League after a six-year absence.
Ahn Ik-soo on the pitch
(SEOUL) – FC Seoul and Gangwon FC play in the 2023 K League 1 match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Monday. Seoul head coach Ahn Ik-soo awaits the start of the match. 2023.5.28 [Provided by the Korea Football Association. Resale and DB prohibited] photo@yna.co.kr
It’s a move that shows a desire to return to his original club and challenge for European honors in the second half of the year.
Hwang has played 14 of the team’s 15 games in the league this season.
While Seoul has jumped to second place in the league, the professional soccer break for the June A-Match (between national teams) is fast approaching. It’s already late June, which means the second half of the schedule is about to begin.
“I think the future is something that will happen next,” Hwang said, but when we pointed out that the future is only a month away, he couldn’t help but laugh and replied, “For now, I want to play well in the remaining matches and then think about it.”
Once he’s done with Seoul, Hwang will return to Nottingham.
Nottingham have just secured at least 16th place in the English Premier League (EPL). They have escaped the relegation scare that plagued them all season.
“First of all, I saw that (Nottingham) stayed up,” Hwang said. Anyway, it’s something I have to talk to Nottingham about when my contract (with Seoul) ends,” he said. “I think I need to talk to my agent and decide what to do.”
Hwang Eui-jo
[Photo courtesy of the Korea Football Association, resale and DB prohibited].
Earlier, when asked about Hwang Ui-jo’s future before the game, Ahn Ik-soo said, “I respect the player’s opinion,” but added, “Of course, there are expectations about the situation after (the contract) ends.”
When asked if he had any conversations with Hwang메이저사이트 about his future, he avoided an immediate answer, saying, “In some ways, (such a process) is a burden on the player and takes away his happiness.”
“I haven’t talked about that (with the coach) yet,” Hwang said.
“He tells me to focus on playing as well as I can,” he said, adding, “I’m grateful for that.”
Na Sang-ho, who leads the team in scoring with eight goals in the league, also said he is aware of the possibility of Hwang’s departure.
“Every game is important until Uijo leaves,” he said. “We talk a lot about how to play every game,” he said, “and sometimes we talk about overseas soccer together. However, we don’t talk about anything specific, just bits and pieces.”