*This content was translated by AI.
Song Si-woo (33), who played for professional football Incheon United, Sangju Sangmu, Seoul E-Land, and Gyeongnam FC, has ended his 23-year football career.
Song Si-woo said on his social media (SNS) on the 20th, "I'm leaving a message to tell you that I'm wrapping up my time as a soccer player, leaving behind the time I've been running tirelessly looking at just one soccer ball."
"In fact, in June last year, my precious and beloved daughter Yui was born very sick," Song Si-woo wrote. "I still can't forget the relief and joy when I was hospitalized for nearly two months in the neonatal intensive care unit and the little one miraculously returned to me and my wife's arms, overcoming all the really difficult treatments."
I don't want to hide the fact that Yui is sick. "There is still a long way to go, and I am doing rehabilitation, medication, and various tests every week, but I think that I will grow up healthy and pretty like everyone else even if it is too late, and I am busy helping my wife and Yui every day," he added.
Song Si-woo said, "Since the second half of last year, there have been many situations where I have been away from the team, and I think it has been difficult to concentrate solely on soccer. "As a player and as a father, it was a series of difficult times, and I think I thought a lot about what was my priority in my life," he said. "Of course, this decision may leave lingering feelings because I can't play a little more as a professional player, but as a father, I thought I would have regrets for the rest of my life if I couldn't help my U-I, who is in golden time."
Song Si-woo then looked back on his soccer life, saying, "Looking back, I think I had a really happy life as a soccer player."
Song Si-woo said, "He was a poor half-player, but he was loved and recognized by the team for a long time, leaving only happy memories, and although he did not help the team much in his hometown, where he started playing soccer at the end, he was able to have time to greet his hometown fans on the field. He also said, "I was able to finish my professional career well because CEO Lee Heung-sil and Gyeongnam FC employees were considerate of my situation and cared a lot about my decision to retire suddenly with the remaining contract period."
"I was grateful to all the members, leaders, and fans who were connected to me, including Incheon United, who was everything and pride in my professional life, Sangju Sangmu, who led my development and was in charge of my military career, and Gyeongnam FC, my hometown team, who made me dream of becoming a soccer player in soccer shoes when I was young, as well as Seoul E-Land, who lived on loan," he said. "I am so grateful to my family, my wife, and my precious daughter Yui who sacrificed and supported me silently."
Song Si-woo, who ended his career, starts his second soccer career as a youth scout for the 'Friendly Team' Incheon.
"Thankfully, I am now able to take the position of youth scout at Incheon United, which was my everything, and share the beginning of my second life," Song Si-woo said. "I would like to deeply thank CEO Condo and other executives and employees for offering me such a good opportunity. I will work hard to further develop Incheon's youth system and contribute to the team called Incheon once again with more diligence than when I was a player," he added.
Colleagues who heard the news of Song Si-woo's retirement also sent support through comments. Shin Jin-ho (Yongin FC) wrote, "I respect the decision to choose the brightest time as a father rather than as a player," and added, "I sincerely support this golden time with UY as the warmest time in my life." Kim Yeon-soo (Incheon) also cheered, "Yu will grow up healthy, let's be a cool dad. A cool dad is the hardest, but let's still try."
Song Si-woo joined Incheon in 2016 after passing through Suwon Technical High School and Dankook University. After that, he served in the military in Sangju, went through Seoul E-Land in the 2023 season, and then moved to Gyeongnam last season. In Incheon, he often scored goals to save the team in a decisive situation at the end of the second half, earning him the nickname of the so-called "Siwoo Time."
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*This content was translated by AI.
