Kyoung-rok Choi has adopted within the footsteps of Koreans within the Bundesliga like Bum Kun Cha and Heung Min Son. Choi made his 2. Bundesliga debut for St. Pauli‘s first crew in April 2015 in a match towards Fortuna Düsseldorf. Choi scored a brace throughout the first 16 minutes of the sport.
In Might 2018, Karlsruher SC, newly relegated to the three. Liga, introduced Choi would be part of for the 2018–19 season having agreed on a three-year contract till 2021. The South Korean midfielder prolonged his stick with Karlsruhe and remained with the membership till the top of the 22/23 season. In January 2024, Choi joined Ok League 1 membership Gwangju FC and has made 26 appearances for the facet, which is at present seventh within the South Korean high tier.
Choi spoke to World Soccer Speak‘s Ben McFadyean about his profession and what he misses concerning the German facet that gave him his skilled debut.
Kyoung Rok Choi interview
Query: Kyoung-rok, you’ve got been again enjoying in Korea since January. How are you having fun with the expertise to this point?
Kyoung-rok: I’m blissful to be again in my nation. I’m having fun with enjoying within the Ok-League.
How is the usual of the Ok-League in comparison with the two. Bundesliga?
Kyoung-rok: I’ve already performed 26 matches since coming again and I need to say that the usual right here is fairly spectacular. We’re very well-prepared right here.
There are new names within the high tier. Golf equipment like Seoul signed Jesse Lingard from Manchester United. What affect are signings like this having on the Ok-League?
Kyoung-rok: Nicely-known gamers like Jesse Lingard within the league, after all, additionally add a problem. I wish to see extra going ahead, it brings so much to our league.
A historic membership to begin one’s profession with
You performed for St. Pauli for 4 seasons. The Millerntor stadium is well-known for its ambiance, there may be additionally an intense ambiance within the World Cup Stadium in Daejeon. How do the grounds examine?
Kyoung-rok: Millerntor is uniquely intense. Twenty-nine-thousand at house nearly each sport offered out, you can not actually examine with many locations. Right here in Korea, the followers are very organized although. Superb ambiance for the 8,000 who have been right here tonight. Even away we get a very good following as you noticed tonight.
St. Pauli have been promoted to the Bundesliga this season. Did you have fun the promotion with the gamers?
Kyoung-rok: I comply with their video games, and I despatched some messages to the membership through Instagram. Pauli is my first membership, and I’m all the time impressed to see the blokes doing nicely. Getting again to the Bundesliga is a big factor for the followers and the membership.
You got here up by way of the U19 to the primary crew and had some profitable seasons with the membership, do you communicate with lots of the gamers at St. Pauli?
Kyoung-rok: I moved to Karlsruher SC in 2018, I’m extra in contact with the blokes there, mates like Dirk Carlson who I performed with at Karlsruhe, who’s now at St. Pölten in Austria and is an effective pal from my time within the German league. We communicate.
Reminiscences of time spent in Germany
The rivalry between Hamburger SV and St. Pauli is legendary. What did it imply for the smaller membership in Hamburg to get promoted forward of HSV?
Kyoung-rok: HSV has been determined to get again since they have been relegated in 2018 however with out success. As a St. Pauli participant after all, like all former gamers, I’m tremendous blissful that Pauli made it again.
You performed within the German leagues for 9 seasons, it was an enormous a part of your profession. What are the particular experiences you look again on?
Kyoung-rok: There are numerous particular moments however after all my debut towards Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2014/15. I scored a brace and gave an help, a particular option to get my skilled profession began.
The Euro 2024 was in Germany this summer season, what did you consider the usual of the German crew and the event?
Kyoung-rok: I watched a variety of video games, Germany did nicely. Julian Nagelsmann looks as if the best coach for the facet. He brings new methods and methods of doing issues I like what goes and I believe it has good prospects.
Conserving Germany and St. Pauli shut even in South Korea
Do you continue to have the possibility to go to Germany, and do you preserve ties over there?
Kyoung-rok: My brother lives in Hamburg so I shall be visiting once more when I’ve the possibility. I’m all the time happy to have the possibility to return and in addition watch some Bundesliga video games.
You talked about your robust affinity with St. Pauli. Will you go to a sport at Millerntor while you get again over?
Kyoung-rok: I might very very similar to to see a sport, particularly within the Bundesliga for positive. I plan to.
St. Pauli is understood to be a novel soccer membership with a particular tradition. What makes the membership so distinctive?
Kyoung-rok: If I believe again concerning the Millerntor, I consider the gamers’ tunnel. You come out of this darkish tunnel with the crimson lights, and also you see the pitch forward of you. You hear the followers, the depth is like nearly no different floor. An electrifying expertise even considering of it.
Do you’ve got one thing to share with the St. Pauli followers?
Kyoung-rok: I wish to say to the followers who keep in mind me there that I had an unforgettable time on the membership. St. Pauli is a part of me.
Lastly, Choi, it’s early days. But, St. Pauli has misplaced Fabian Hurzeler (Coach) to Brighton. Do you consider that the Brown and Whites can keep up within the Bundesliga?
Kyoung-rok: For me, there is no such thing as a doubt they will do it.
PHOTOS: IMAGO.
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