Reporter Park Jae-ho = FC Seoul’s new captain, Ilyuchenko (33), expressed expectations for working with Hwang Eui-jo (31).
The ‘Hana 1 Q K1 League 2023 Opening Media Day’, announcing the start of the 2023 season, was held at The-K Hotel in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 20th. Managers and captains from 12 clubs attended and shared various stories.
On this day, Ilyuchenko was the only foreign player to attend Media Day as Seoul’s captain. Last year, Ki Sung-yong and Na Sang-ho were the captains of Seoul, but Ilyuchenko took the new armband this year. Appointment of a foreign captain is unusual.
When I met Ilyuchenko before the event and asked if there was any burden on the captain or inconvenience in communication, he said, “It is an honor and special to be the captain in Seoul, the capital of Korea.” (Communication) is not much of a problem,” he said. 먹튀검증
This year, the K-League has increased the number of foreign players from ‘3+1’ (3 players regardless of nationality + 1 player from an AFC member country) to ‘5+1’. However, simultaneous participation is ‘3+1’, so 4 players can play in the game.
Regarding this, Ilyuchenko said, “This is a new rule for all teams, not just Seoul. It feels new and different (from the perspective of foreign players). K League teams are actively recruiting foreign players. The expansion of foreign players can raise the level of the K-League, but there are cases where Korean players cannot play.
When asked about Seoul’s goal ranking this year, he replied, “It is difficult to predict. First of all, the goal is to settle in Final A. We will see what happens after that.”
Ahead of this season, Seoul recruited Hwang Ui-jo, who played in the Greek League, to strengthen their strength. Ilyuchenko expected to work with Hwang Ui-jo, who is in the same position. He said, “I have a good chemistry with Hwang Ui-jo. After he came to Seoul, I guessed 4-5 games, and he has good skills and the ability to read the game. I am happy to play together.”
Ilyuchenko will continue to wear number 90 as last year. When asked why he particularly likes number 90, he said, “It was number 10 in Jeonbuk, but when I came to Seoul, the owner of number 10 was there. I chose number 90 because I was born in 1990.”