Song Ui-young

Song Ui-young (born 8 November 1993) is a South Korean-born Singaporean professional footballer who plays as a central-midfielder, attacking-midfielder or a winger for Liga 1 club Persebaya Surabaya. Born in South Korea, he represents the Singapore national team.
Arguably one of the most accomplished midfielders in the Singapore Premier League, he is known for his high work rate and superb technical abilities. He moved to Singapore in 2011 to join Home United – now known as the Lion City Sailors. He has established himself as one of the best attacking-midfielders in Southeast Asia.
Early life
Song was born in Incheon, South Korea and spent most of his childhood between school and football. Song was known as a quiet child during his schooling days, but stood out for his footballing skills and passion for the sport. He was scouted in his final year of elementary school to join Cheong Wang Middle School, a school renowned for its footballing programme. Song also moved to the dormitory as the school premises were situated in the Gyeonggi-do province, away from Incheon where he lived.
Youth career
At the age of 13, Song began training with the school team of Cheong Wang Middle School. In the final year of middle school, Song was made the team captain and his head coach also put in a recommendation during his graduation for him to attend his high school education at Yeouido High School, which was known for its affiliations with K League Classic club Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Club career
Home United
Having excelled at youth level for his academy, by the recommendation of his coach from Yeouido High School, Song left South Korea at the age of 18 to pursue footballing opportunities in Singapore. Song's move to Singapore was eased by the presence of Home United's coach, Lee Lim-saeng in which Song said that his academy’s coach knew him. Lee used to work as an assistant coach in Suwon Samsung and the academy was under Suwon Samsung so both coaches knew each other. He also work under assistant coach Baek Jong-seok, whom he shared an apartment with.
Song subsequently joined Home United's youth team, which participates in the Prime League, before being promoted to join the first team which competed in the S.League. On 12 July 2012, Song made his debut appearance for the Protectors in the uniformed derby against Warriors. He played a total of 46 minutes in his first competitive match for the club, which subsequently ended in a 0–3 loss for his side.
Former Home United coach Philippe Aw who managed the Singapore Selection side for the 2016 Sultan of Selangor Cup, selected Song in the 18-man squad for the cup tie that took place at the Shah Alam Stadium on 7 May 2016. He came on as a substitute in the 56th minute, and played the remainder of the match which eventually ended 1-1 (3-4 on penalties) in a win for the Singapore Selection team.
Song often spearhead the attacking players in the false nine position. Alongside Shahril Ishak, he enjoyed a prolific start to the 2018 Singapore Premier League campaign before encountering an injury that ruled him out for the latter half of the season. Song also played a pivotal role in helping the club to a second-place finish, scoring a total of 20 goals over the entire season, securing Home United with a play-off slot for the AFC Champions League as well as its highest ever AFC Cup finish in the quarter-finals.
On 1 November 2018, it was reported that Song had rejected interest from Indonesian giants Persija Jakarta. Despite being offered a deal worth US$20,000 per month from the Indonesian club, Song chose to remain with Home United, stating his hopes of representing Singapore internationally in the future. He also signed a two-year contract extension with the Singapore-based club.
Lion City Sailors
On 14 February 2020, Home United was purchased, privatised and officially renamed as Lion City Sailors by Singaporean billionaire, Forrest Li. Song remained with the rebranded side, representing the club for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season.
During the 2021 season, Song was quick to express his delight at the influx of fresh talent, which he explained helped boost the quality and intensity of training sessions. However, the arrival of Lopes also meant he had to give up his number 10 shirt. Under new manager Kim Do-hoon, Song was part of the Lion City Sailors side that won the 2021 Singapore Premier League which qualified them for next season AFC Champions League group stage. He ended the season scoring 7 goals in 15 appearances.
In Song's first game of the 2022 season, he helped his side to win the 2022 Singapore Community Shield. He went on to score six goals and provided five assists in 31 appearances for the club. During the 2022 AFC Champions League group stage matches, Song scored a header from Maxime Lestienne's cross which resulted the Sailors to a 3–0 victory against K League 1 club Daegu FC. Against the Chinese club, Shandong Taishan, he scored a goal and provided a assist and was named 'Man of the Match'. In the reverse fixture against Daegu, Song scored a goal again but the Sailors eventually lost the match. In May, it was reported that Daegu and Suwon FC is interested in signing Song and had made an offer.
Song has scored 78 goals and provided 23 assists in 226 appearances across 12 seasons, leaving the Sailors as their all-time top goalscorer with 32 goals in all competitions.
Nongbua Pitchaya
On 15 January 2023, it was announced that Song had left Lion City Sailors to move out of his “comfort zone” to pursue new challenges with Thai League 1 side Nongbua Pitchaya. On 21 January 2023, Song scored his first goal in his debut game for the club against Bangkok United.
Persebaya Surabaya
On 2 June 2023, Song signed on with Indonesia's Liga 1 club Persebaya Surabaya. On 18 August 2023, Song scored a rocket shot from outside the box scoring the only goal in the game against Liga 1 champions, PSM Makassar. His goal was voted as the 'Best Goal of the Week' for game week 9.
International career
After receiving Singaporean citizenship, Song was called up to the Singapore national team on 27 August 2021.
On 11 November 2021, Song made his international debut in a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan. On 5 December 2021, Song made his competitive debut at the 2020 AFF Championship with a 3–0 victory against Myanmar. Song scored his first goal for Singapore in the second leg of the 2020 AFF Championship semi-final match against Indonesia. He scored his second goal and third goals in the Asian Cup third-round qualifiers.
Song had given the Lions the lead against the Kyrgyz Republic in the first game of the qualifiers before two goals in three minutes sent Singapore to a narrow defeat. His third goal for the Lions came in a 6–2 win over Myanmar in the final match of their qualifiers.
Song was called up for the 2022 AFF Championship.
On 12 September 2023, Song scored a goal against Chinese Taipei in his return to the national team.
Style of play
Initially deployed as a defensive midfielder by former Home United head coach Lee Lim-saeng, Song was placed in more offensive roles under Aidil Sharin Sahak, playing in a variety of positions as a box-to-box or attacking midfielder, winger, second striker and even as a poacher.
Career statistics
Club
International
As of match played 3 January 2023. Appearances and goals by national team and year
International goals
Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first.
Personal life
During an interview in 2016, Song shared his eagerness of representing Singapore internationally, which included having to naturalise as a Singaporean citizen in the process and renouncing his South Korean citizenship. Song had also been applying to be a Singaporean citizen on his own merit, independent of the possibility of the Football Association of Singapore reviving the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme which was established in the 2000s. Furthermore, he had met FIFA eligibility rules for foreign players planning to represent other national teams, as he has never represented South Korea internationally.
In 2020, after three unsuccessful attempts, Song successfully attained permanent residency in Singapore. A year later on 20 August 2021, Song formally became a Singaporean citizen, therefore making him eligible to represent Singapore.
Honours
Club
Lion City Sailors
Singapore Premier League: 2021; runner-up: 2013, 2018, Singapore Premier League: 2022
Singapore Cup: 2013; runner-up: 2014, 2015
Singapore Community Shield: 2019, 2022
Individual
Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2018, 2020
References
External links
Living people
1993 births
Footballers from Incheon
Singaporean men's footballers
Singapore men's international footballers
South Korean men's footballers
South Korean emigrants to Singapore
Singapore Premier League players
Expatriate men's footballers in Singapore
South Korean expatriate men's footballers
Men's association football midfielders
Lion City Sailors FC players
Song Ui-young
Persebaya Surabaya players
Song Ui-young
Liga 1 (Indonesia) players
Naturalised citizens of Singapore
Singaporean people of Korean descent
Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Thailand
Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Thailand
Expatriate men's footballers in Indonesia
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia
Singaporean expatriate sportspeople in Indonesia