Although the transfer of players is a natural professional stage, the transfer of a specific player creates a new story. Pohang Steelers and Incheon United are expected to play in a different atmosphere starting this season. Shin Jin-ho’s transfer created a new story.
Pohang and Incheon will play the 10th round of the Hana One Q K League 1 2023 at Pohang Steel Yard at 3 pm on the 30th.
The atmosphere of the two teams, which finished third and fourth last season and qualified for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League this year, is at odds.
Pohang is the only team undefeated in the K-League 1 with 5 wins and 4 draws (19 points) in 9 games this season, and is in second place. On the other hand, Incheon is in 10th place with 2 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses (9 points), falling short of expectations.
Pohang, which is chasing leader Ulsan Hyundai (22 points), and Incheon, which is aiming for a mid-table jump, are expected to compete fiercely to get 3 points in the head-to-head match.
There is also a catalyst that will make the match between the two teams even hotter. That is Incheon midfielder Shin Jin-ho.
Shin Jin-ho, who graduated from Pohang Jecheol High School, a youth team in Pohang, made his professional debut in 2011 wearing a Pohang uniform. Since then, Shin Jin-ho, who has been renting in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, returned to Pohang in 2021 through FC Seoul, Sangju Sangmu, and Ulsan Hyundai.
In his former team, which returned after five years, Shin Jin-ho served as the team’s ace, receiving the favor of coach Kim Ki-dong for two years. Manager Kim put great trust in Shin Jin-ho and entrusted him with a key role in the team’s tactics. In 2022, he showed his best performance, including being named in the K League 1 Best 11 midfielder category.
However, Shin Jin-ho, who had a disagreement with Pohang during the salary negotiations this season, headed to Incheon about a month before the start of the new season. When Shin Jin-ho moved the team, coach Kim Ki-dong, Pohang players, and fans expressed their regret toward him.
Pohang has a strong will to repay the disappointment they experienced in the transfer market with a victory in this confrontation.
An official from the Pohang club said, “After the match immediately before, the captain, Kim Seung-dae, expressed his determination, saying, ‘I will show who’s choice is right.’ I’m working on it,” he said.
The players are not the only players waiting for the game against Incheon. Pohang fans are now preparing to welcome Shin Jin-ho, whom they have supported for the past two years, as their enemy. An official from the Pohang club predicted, “Pohang fans were very disappointed with Shin Jin-ho’s transfer and felt betrayed.토토사이트
Shin Jin-ho is also preparing for a sortie against Pohang. In the home game against Ulsan held on the 25th, Incheon coach Cho Seong-hwan excluded Shin Jin-ho from the list and gave him a break to prepare for the match against Pohang. Shin Jin-ho is active as Incheon’s main midfielder, appearing in 8 matches before the match against Ulsan.