Hwang Hee-chan is a player who always writes a history of reversal.
Hwang Hee-chan succeeded in entering the big league in the 2020-21 season based on his good performance with Red Bull Salzburg. Germany’s young master Julian Nagelsmann was called to RB Leipzig and was able to challenge from a higher place.
Contrary to expectations, Hwang Hee-chan did not play to his strengths in Leipzig. He also suffered from difficulties in the main competition. As the rotation continued to be pushed back, Hwang Hee-chan made a bold choice ahead of the 2021-22 season. 경마사이트
He sought change after leaving on loan for Wolverhampton in the Premier League. Wolverhampton took Hwang Hee-chan on condition of full recruitment after loan. It got off to a good start. Hwang Hee-chan successfully established himself by scoring four goals in six league games. However, for the rest of the season, his performance was not good with one goal and one assist.
Still, Wolverhampton decided to fully recruit Hwang Hee-chan. Hwang Hee-chan wanted to continue his career at Wolverhampton, but there was a last-minute variable in the transfer market in the 2022-23 season. Jesse March, who coached Hwang Hee-chan in Salzburg, wanted to recruit Hwang Hee-chan from Leeds United.
At the time, the coach said, “I know Hwang Hee-chan well, who is rumored to be transferred. He’s my favorite player. I know my soccer very well. “I was a player on the recruitment list from the beginning,” he said, adding that he is considering recruiting Hwang Hee-chan.
Leeds even made an offer to recruit Hwang Hee-chan. But Wolverhampton was not a satisfactory proposition. England’s ‘The Athlete’ said, “Wolverhampton received an inquiry from Leeds about Hwang Hee-chan. The unofficial offer of 17 million pounds (about 27.4 billion won) was rejected. Wolverhampton did not like the transfer fee payment structure and intends to keep Hwang Hee-chan.”
Hwang Hee-chan, who continued his life at Wolverhampton, was unsuccessful in the 2022-23 season. Until the middle of the season, he was behind in the main competition. Former coach Julen Lopetegui mainly used Hwang Hee-chan as a substitute.
It was after the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar that the atmosphere changed. Hwang Hee-chan, who was suffering from injury at the World Cup, failed to play all of the first two group games. A chronic hamstring injury plagued Hwang Hee-chan.
It seemed difficult to advance to the round of 16 after losing 2-3 to Ghana. Hwang Hee-chan became the main character. Hwang Hee-chan also failed to start in the third group match against Portugal. Hwang Hee-chan, who was not 100% yet, was given about 30 minutes.
Hwang Hee-chan was put in as a substitute in the second half and showed a bold breakthrough as a right wing forward. Hwang Hee-chan, who had to beat Portugal to advance to the round of 16, completed a miraculous theater goal with Son Heung-min in 1 minute of extra time. Korea, which won thanks to Hwang Hee-chan, achieved its first round of 16 in 12 years.
It unfortunately ended the tournament by losing against Brazil in the round of 16, but Hwang Hee-chan was the most threatening player against Brazil. After the World Cup, I thought I would return to Wolverhampton and take the main spot, but my injury was hampered again. Fortunately, at the end of the season, he scored a total of four goals in the second half while securing time to play.
Hwang Hee-chan, who failed to show his presence for about a season and a half in the long run, was later classified as a target for sale in Wolverhampton. In May, the U.K.’s Express and Star said, “Many surplus resources are expected to leave Wolverhampton. Raul Jimenez, Jonny Castro, Daniel Podense and Rayan Ait-Nuri are coming to an end in Wolverhampton. “The same goes for players like Hwang Hee-chan,” he predicted.
Hwang Hee-chan’s position was also not safe as Wolverhampton was under pressure to abide by the PL’s profitability and sustainability rules. As a result, Wolverhampton decided not to sell Hwang Hee-chan. Liam Keane of “Express and Star,” who talked about Hwang Hee-chan’s transfer, reported on his personal SNS in August, “Some places are interested in Hwang Hee-chan, but Wolverhampton has no intention of selling Hwang Hee-chan at all.”
Wolverhampton’s choice to keep Hwang Hee-chan became the best decision. Wolverhampton was classified as a relegation zone player before the start of the season, with a large number of key players such as Hoobeng Neves and Joao Mutinho. Three days before the opening of the season, he broke up with Lopetegui. It was only late that Gary O’Neill was appointed. O’Neill also had little experience in coaching PL.
It was Hwang Hee-chan who led the team amid an unstable start to the season. Hwang Hee-chan, who came out as a substitute in the match against Manchester United, his first game of the season, scored his first goal of the season against Brighton in the second round. The team lost 1-4, but Hwang Hee-chan’s playing time gradually increased amid good performances.
Hwang Hee-chan’s momentum was unprecedented. He also scored in the fourth round against Crystal Palace and the fifth round against Liverpool, taking charge of his team’s attack. He showed off his good teamwork with Pedro Neto and was also wary of Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola.
Before meeting Wolverhampton, Guardiola said: “We always struggled against Wolverhampton. Look at the players Wolverhampton has. In particular, Netu, Matheus Cunha, and Korean players (Hwang Hee-chan), who are at the forefront, are really good,” he said, referring to Hwang Hee-chan.
Guardiola did not let his guard down, but he could not stop Hwang Hee-chan. Hwang Hee-chan also scored against Manchester City to lead his team to victory. It was Hwang Hee-chan, who scored a goal in the subsequent Aston Villa match.
Hwang Hee-chan’s momentum didn’t end here. He scored his first assist of the season against Bournemouth, scoring three consecutive offensive points. Hwang Hee-chan, who added one goal in the match against Newcastle United and one assist in the match against Sheffield United, created an offensive point for five consecutive games. He was also the first player in the club’s history to score six consecutive home goals.
Hwang Hee-chan said, “It’s my third season in England. It is a time to adapt and show good performance. There’s nothing special, and I’m going to continue with my usual routine. I think it’s because I sleep well and manage what I eat. I think there was a lot of help from people around me and I think I was very lucky,” he said, explaining that there was no major change.
As Hwang Hee-chan leads the team, Wolverhampton is showing great satisfaction. As a result, Wolverhampton is reportedly trying to renew his contract as a reward for Hwang Hee-chan, who is tied for sixth in scoring and sixth in attacking points with six goals and two assists in the league.
Reporter David Onstein, who boasts the best public confidence in PL while working for Britain’s “The Athlete,” said on the 19th, “Wolverhampton is in discussion with Hwang Hee-chan to renew his contract.” Hwang Hee-chan’s existing contract does not expire until 2026, but he has become a key player this season. The club wants to repay Hwang Hee-chan’s performance with an improved contract,” he reported.
Reporter Onstein said, “The negotiations are going positively thanks to the wishes of the two sides that Hwang Hee-chan will leave at Molineux Stadium. Hwang Hee-chan is known to like playing under Wolverhampton coach Gary O’Neill, and if the conditions are right, he is expected to sign an extension.”