'Coach Who Also Struggled with His Son Resigns → Enthusiastic Welcome' Yeom Ki-hoon, Tears: "Honestly, I Didn't Even Have the Courage to Visit Big Bird..." [Suwon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

'Master of the Left Foot' Yeom Ki-hoon (43) shed tears upon returning to Big Bird. Amidst high praise from Ryan Giggs, a legend of England's Premier League (EPL), and the warm welcome from Suwon fans, Yeom Ki-hoon found the strength to overcome his wounds.

The Suwon Samsung Legends team secured a 1-0 victory over OGFC in a Legends Match held at Suwon World Cup Stadium at 7 p.m. on the 19th. Yeom Ki-hoon played the full 90 minutes, showcasing a sharp left-footed kick and vigorous activity comparable to his playing days.

Giggs, a legend of the opposing team, also gave a thumbs-up to Yeom Ki-hoon's performance. After the match, in the mixed zone, Giggs said, "From the moment the game started, I could tell his left foot was excellent," and added, "While his presence on the field is impressive even now, I can't imagine how much better he must have been during his playing days," offering high praise.

In a post-match interview in the mixed zone, Yeom Ki-hoon responded to Giggs' praise, stating, "It feels like a dream. Giggs was an idol I only saw on TV during my playing days, so it was an honor to compete alongside him."

However, for Yeom Ki-hoon, this match held significance beyond a simple friendly. It was his first visit to Big Bird since stepping down as Suwon's head coach. At the time of his resignation announcement, Yeom Ki-hoon held a megaphone and repeatedly apologized to Suwon fans. Yeom Ki-hoon shared, "Honestly, there were some unpleasant memories during the process of leaving as Suwon's coach. Because of that, I had many worries and concerns ahead of participating in the event. Even when I used to visit to check on the players, I couldn't bring myself to come to Big Bird because I lacked the courage," revealing his true feelings.

Continuing, Yeom Ki-hoon said, "But the fans gave me a much warmer welcome than I expected, and I was overwhelmed in that moment. Thanks to the unexpected cheers, I gained a bit of courage. It was truly a grateful and meaningful day."

On this day, Yeom Ki-hoon also drew attention by entering the field with his son, Sunwoo. Yeom Ki-hoon stated, "Sunwoo also suffered many wounds while experiencing the difficult times with his father. I hope today's cheers will serve as a great motivation for young Sunwoo. Sunwoo has been with Suwon for 13 years, even from the time he was in the womb. He probably loves Suwon more than I do," expressing his deep affection for his son.

He also commented on the intensity of the match. Yeom Ki-hoon said, "I didn't expect to play the full 90 minutes. My calves hurt so much," but added, "The OGFC players took the second half very seriously, with their competitive spirit heating up. Even though they are retired, their determination not to lose likely gave the fans even greater inspiration."

Regarding the winning goal by his former top partner, San Toss, from his playing days, he said, "Even during my playing days, whenever the team was in trouble, he would score a goal. Today, we were able to hold on thanks to San Toss's goal. He traveled all the way from Brazil, so it's truly a relief that he scored the winning goal," smiling.

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*This content was translated by AI.