Paik Seung-ho

Paik Seung-ho (born 17 March 1997) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and the South Korea national team. Starting playing football since May in 2005 in a football academy, Paik was awarded MVP award in juvenile team and MVP award from Korea Football Association (KFA) in youth team for the first time at the age of 11. While he played in Barcelona youth team at the age of 13, he was expected to join Barcelona A for the first time as Korean player.
Early life
In 2009, as a member of Seoul Daedong Elementary School, he played 18 games in the Elementary Weekend League and scored 30 goals. Since then, he has received attention as an outstanding prospect, winning the 22nd Cha Bum-kun Football Grand Prize. In December, he participated in the 1st Korea-Catalonia Youth Cup in Barcelona, Spain as a member of the South Korean national under-14 football team, and was offered a contract as a result of his impressive performance. However, he was already scouted by Maetan Middle School, a youth team of Samsung Bluewings in Suwon, and was scheduled to enter, but Samsung Bluewings decided to send Paik to Spain with a long term vision and also to support him.
Paik played for Maetan Middle School, under-15 youth team of the Suwon Samsung Bluewings until March 2010, before moving to Barcelona's under-13 youth team, Infantil A, in April 2010. In July 2011, Paik signed a five-year contract with Barcelona's youth team, leaving him in Barcelona's uniform until the age of 19. However, in February 2013, FIFA suspended six players, including Paik, from Barcelona's youth team, for violating Article 19 of the FIFA rules that made Paik not participate in Barcelona's official matches until January 2016. After the disciplinary action was released in January 2016, he played actively for Barcelona Juvenile A, and made his professional debut on 21 February, as a substitute in Segunda División B match with Atlético Levante in the 45th minute of the second half.
Club career
Girona
Paik played for Barcelona as a youth player for seven years, but he had difficulty competing in the senior team. He joined Girona on 21 July 2017, and played for Peralada, the reserve team of Girona at the time, in the Segunda División B during his first professional season.
Paik made his first team debut against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey on 10 January 2019. He made his La Liga debut as a substitute against Barcelona on 27 January. He officially played six matches for Girona excluding a Supercopa de Catalunya match.
Darmstadt 98
On 31 August 2019, Paik signed for 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98 on a three-year deal. He played for Darmstadt for one and a half years. However, his status in the team was gradually lowered, and he was going to be released from the first team in the middle of his second season. He eventually considered a return to his country.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Paik joined K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in March 2021.
International career
Paik made his South Korea national team debut on 11 June 2019 in a friendly against Iran, as a starter.
Paik played South Korea's round-of-16 match against Brazil as a substitute in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and his goal in the match was nominated for goal of the tournament.
Paik participated in the 2022 Asian Games as an overage player, and captained South Korean under-24 team. He scored three goals with his powerful shots in the competition, but was criticised for his mistakes responsible for conceding goals to opponents in the knockout stage. Nevertheless, he successfully finished his role, winning a gold medal.
Career statistics
Club
International
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.
Honours
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
K League 1: 2021
Korean FA Cup: 2022
South Korea U23
Asian Games: 2022
South Korea
EAFF Championship runner-up: 2022
Notes
References
External links
1997 births
Living people
Footballers from Seoul
Men's association football midfielders
South Korean men's footballers
South Korea men's under-20 international footballers
South Korea men's under-23 international footballers
South Korea men's international footballers
La Liga players
Segunda División B players
2. Bundesliga players
FC Barcelona Atlètic players
CF Peralada players
Girona FC players
FC Barcelona players
SV Darmstadt 98 players
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors players
South Korean expatriate men's footballers
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Spain
Expatriate men's footballers in Spain
South Korean expatriate sportspeople in Germany
Expatriate men's footballers in Germany
2022 FIFA World Cup players
Footballers at the 2022 Asian Games
Asian Games medalists in football
Asian Games gold medalists for South Korea
Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games