Ten years ago, I was in the sixth grade. He was playing for the Pohang Steelers youth team, Pohang Dongcho (now Pohang Steel). Ten years later, he became a professional player, scoring a goal and leading his team to victory in the 50th anniversary match. The protagonist of this growth story is the ‘little giant’ Ko Young-jun (22).
In the 15th round of the 2023 Hana One Q K League 1 home match against Jeonbuk Hyundai at Pohang Steel Yard on Sept. 29, Ko scored a celestial goal in the 21st minute of the second half to lead his team to a 1-0 victory. It was the 21st minute of the second half when the score was tied at 0-0. Ko Young-jun received the ball near the halfway line and began a 40-meter storming run. He then drove to the right side of the penalty box and rattled the net with a powerful right-footed shot. “After I broke through, I thought about giving it to (Lee) Ho-jae, but the defender took an angle. I looked behind me, but there was no one there, so I decided at that moment that I had to finish,” said Ko.
Go’s goal had a special meaning on this day, not only because it gave the team three valuable points, but also because it came on Pohang’s 50th birthday. At the Pohang Steel Yard, legends such as Hall of Fame coach Lee Hoe-taek, Park Kyung-hoon, Lee Heung-sil, Gong Moon-bae, Park Tae-ha, Hwang Sun-hong, and others were in attendance to celebrate the “fortieth” birthday. “I was in the sixth grade at the 40th anniversary, and I didn’t know the significance of a professional team back then, but it’s strange that I scored a goal and won the game on the 50th anniversary. I thought, ‘I’m getting old,'” he said, causing the press conference to burst into laughter. “I think it’s an honor to be a legend. It’s still a long way off. If I do everything I can do now, it will happen someday.”
When Pohang coach Kim Ki-dong was asked to praise Ko Young-joon, who is expected to have a ‘career high’ this season, he said, “Young-joon is carrying me up and down. If he scores a goal, the team is in a good situation, but if he doesn’t score a goal, we have a tough game,” he laughed. “When I started this season, I wanted to do better than last season. The coach believed in me more this year and instilled confidence in me, so I think I’m playing well,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t expect to do so well this season. I just thought, ‘Let’s not miss any chances’. I think I scored more than I thought,” he said, adding, 안전놀이터 “In shooting training, if I don’t shoot well, the coach gives me feedback. “If you don’t make a shot, he’ll tell you, ‘You’re going to have to get over it. No one can help you with that,'” he said.
But the joy was short-lived. Just seven minutes after his goal, Ko was substituted as an injury precaution. “I’ve never been injured in soccer before,” he said. But I felt a strange sensation in my calf, so I came out. I don’t think it’s anything serious,” he explained.