Daegu key striker Ko Jae-hyun scores team's most goals
After announcing his retirement, veteran Lee Geun-ho (38-Daegu FC) has named Go Jae-hyun (24) as his successor.
Lee Geun-ho attended the Hana OneQ K League 1 2023 Final Round Media Day event at a hotel in Yongsan-gu on April 18, attracting the attention of media, officials, and soccer fans.
Lee has accumulated 80 goals and 53 assists in 385 career K League games (as of Oct. 16), one K League 1 title, two AFC Champions League titles, and the 2012 AFC Champions League MVP-Player of the Year award. He has scored 19 goals in 84 caps for his country.
Daegu will host Lee's retirement ceremony on December 3 at the club's K League 1 Round 38 home match against Incheon United at DGB Daegu Bank Park.
At the media day, Lee was asked to name his favorite 'grandson of the sun'. As he is nicknamed the "Son of the Sun," Lee was asked to name his successor. "I would like Ko Jae-hyun, who has been doing the best job for me personally, to play the role," he said.
Daegu striker Go Jae-hyun emerged as a key player last season, scoring 13 goals and adding two assists. This season, he is still the team's top scorer with nine goals and one assist in 32 appearances. He needs just one more goal to reach double digits for the second straight year.
Lee Geun-ho said of Ko, "He's doing well now, and he did well last year. The second year is usually tough, but he's overcoming it and doing well."
Despite his success in the K League 1, Go missed out on the national team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. "I've had my ups and downs with the national team, but I'm overcoming them," he said, adding, "These trials will serve as a springboard for me to get bigger. I'm looking forward to the future and I think I'll make further progress in my soccer career."
Ko Jae-hyun is getting over the disappointment of being eliminated from the Asian Games team on the pitch. He scored a multi-goal performance against Jeonbuk Hyundai in Round 32 to clinch Daegu's Final A spot, and scored the opening goal against Suwon FC in Round 33 for his second consecutive game. For his recent performances, he was nominated for the September Player of the Month award.
Go will look to make it three in a row against Jeonbuk at home at DGB Daegu Bank Park on September 21. 스포츠토토맨