'Even mercenaries are not exempt': Lee Jeong-hyo's charisma leaves K League's 218-game 'longest-serving foreign investor' speechless. "I am a Korean now too" [Suwon field]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Jeong-hyo, the manager renowned for his cool-headed analysis and fiery personality, has captivated even foreign players with his uniquely Korean style of charisma. Suwon Samsung's foreign players expressed deep admiration and trust in Manager Lee's strict principle-based approach, which treats all players equally and rigorously regardless of nationality.

On the 25th at 4:30 p.m., Suwon secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Cheonan City FC in their Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 13 home match at Suwon World Cup Stadium. After a tense back-and-forth battle, Paulinho scored a last-minute winner in stoppage time. With this win, Suwon collected 26 points, closing the gap to just two points behind first-place Busan IPark and officially igniting the race for the top spot.

In the post-match mixed zone, Paulinho and Ilyuchenko, the key figures behind Suwon's dramatic victory, unanimously expressed surprise at Manager Lee's distinctive leadership and firm player management style.

Paulinho, who received a thrilling winning goal after a video assistant referee (VAR) review in stoppage time, shook his head and said, "I've never seen a coaching style like Manager Lee's in my entire football career."

Paulinho continued, "The manager treats foreign and Korean players exactly the same, without any distinction." He recalled a recent training session: "I fell and was in real pain on the field, yet the manager firmly shouted, 'Get up quickly and keep going!'"

Paulinho added, "Manager Lee never lets players relax for even a moment; he constantly pushes them to their limits. But I believe his methods are entirely correct, and I can personally see the team and players improving." He smiled as he spoke.

Paulinho further expressed his trust, saying, "Even when the manager gets emotional and pushes hard during training, we all understand that it's not personal but solely for the team's victory and development, so we willingly accept it."

Ilyuchenko, who finally broke his prolonged goal drought and scored his first goal of the season, also praised Manager Lee's leadership with a thumbs-up. Earlier that day, after scoring his first goal, Ilyuchenko shared a warm embrace with Manager Lee, showcasing their close bond.

Ilyuchenko, a 'long-serving foreign investor' who has played in the K League since 2019 (218 career matches, 85 goals, 27 assists), said, "I've played in the K League for a long time, but I've never met a tactician who pays such meticulous and precise attention to every detail." He added, "Because the manager clearly explains the tactics, all teammates play with full confidence." He shook his head in admiration.

Manager Lee is known for demanding relentless forward pressing and defensive involvement even from his attackers. Ilyuchenko laughed and said, "I am a Korean too (I'm Korean)," acknowledging that he has fully integrated into Manager Lee's football system alongside domestic players.

Nevertheless, Ilyuchenko shared, "Even though I was stressed and frustrated for not scoring for so long, the manager consistently valued my activity level and tactical contributions, never wavering in his trust." He continued with a bright smile, "Recently, in a private moment, he jokingly asked, 'When exactly are you going to score? Just score already!' Fortunately, I kept my promise today, so I hope he'll start seeing me in a more positive light from now on."

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*This content was translated by AI.