Lee Chung-yong, who was at the center of the controversy over the "demagogue," overcame the retirement crisis and "extended the active role" in Incheon

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Chung-yong (38), who was at the center of controversy with his "golf ceremony" that publicly shot Jeon during the season, will overcome the retirement crisis and make a new start at Incheon United.

On the 11th, the Incheon club officially announced the recruitment of Lee Chung-yong, who was a free agent. The Incheon club explained, "Lee Cheong-yong's abundant international experience, stable game management ability, and leadership to lead juniors are expected to be a great addition to his power."

Lee Chung-yong, who rarely found a new destination after his contract with Ulsan HD was terminated after last season, was on the verge of retirement and managed to continue his career. He was confirmed to join Incheon less than three weeks before the opening of the K-League.

He was born in 1988 and received a considerable salary during his time in Ulsan, which has been an obstacle to finding a new team. On top of that, the "ceremony controversy," which erupted at the end of last season, was also a burden for clubs who were considering recruiting Lee Chung-yong. This is because the public's response to "player Lee Chung-yong" was so cold as he was embroiled in a controversy over the depression that shot the coach with a ceremony.

Earlier, after scoring a penalty goal against Gwangju FC in October last year, Lee Chung-yong was at the center of the controversy by performing a ceremony of golf swing. At that time, it was a shooting ceremony aimed virtually at former Ulsan coach Shin Tae-yong, who was fired 10 days ago.

Coach Shin Tae-yong, known as a golf fanatic, leaked a photo of a golf bag on the club's away bus to the soccer community even though the team was sluggish at the time. Since then, coach Shin Tae-yong has been dismissed for poor team performance, and he explained in multiple media interviews that "a player took a picture and reported the loading of the golf bag on the club bus to send it home to Seongnam," adding, "The senior players didn't even greet me." The team's atmosphere is broken," he said, insisting on some players' protests during his tenure as Ulsan coach.

In the meantime, when the team got a penalty (PK) opportunity, Lee Chung-yong volunteered to succeed even though he was not a kicker in charge of PK, and performed a golf ceremony "as if to show." In other words, Lee Chung-yong directly added fuel to rumors of discord between the coach and veteran players, which arose from former coach Shin Tae-yong's claims. Later, Lee Chung-yong declined to comment on Shin's claims, saying, "We will find out who is more sincere." There were strong criticisms that the ceremony of openly shooting the head coach was inappropriate as a player and veteran. Even foreign media such as Japan and Indonesia reported on related matters, saying, "Lee Cheong-yong sarcastically criticized Shin Tae-yong, who left."

Despite the controversy, Lee Chung-yong and others rarely expressed their position regarding coach Shin Tae-yong. Since then, Lee Chung-yong apologized to fans for his actions in a handwritten letter only last month, more than three months after his contract with the Ulsan club expired and controversy over his golf ceremony erupted. Lee Chung-yong said, "I feel a clear responsibility as a player for disappointing many people due to my ceremony last season, and I sincerely apologize to the fans. As a player and as a senior, I think I should have acted more rationally rather than putting my emotions ahead," he said.

However, public opinion toward Lee Chung-yong had already become chilly. Not only was he at the center of discord with the coach, but he also performed a sniper ceremony, and the so-called tag of the downbeat became an inseparable stigma. Lee Chung-yong, who was on the verge of retirement because he could not find a new team after leaving Ulsan, received a dramatic love call from Incheon coach Yoon Jung-hwan. The club, which could not have known the public opinion about Lee Chung-yong, also decided to recruit him in respect of the head coach's will.

Lee Chung-yong, who will wear the Incheon uniform, will start adapting to the new team in earnest through the club's second off-season training in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, from the 13th. "I'm excited to start a new challenge," he said through the club. I will pour out all my experience and capabilities on the field so that the team can move toward higher goals. I will repay the fans with a good performance," he said. The contract period between Incheon and Lee Chung-yong is 1+1 year.

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*This content was translated by AI.