Korean Midfielder Plays 23 Minutes in a 1-0 Loss to West Bromwich Albion

Courtesy of BIRMINGHAM CITY

Birmingham City's recent signing, Paik Seung-ho, made his debut for the club on Saturday in a Championship match against local rivals West Bromwich Albion. The 26-year-old midfielder played for 23 minutes after being substituted on for Koji Miyoshi in the 67th minute at The Hawthorns, West Brom's home stadium in England.

The game concluded with a 1-0 loss for Birmingham, marking their 13th defeat of the 2023-24 season. As of Sunday, Birmingham sits in 19th place on the 24-team table with 32 points, recording eight wins, eight draws, and 13 losses. 

▲ Courtesy of BIRMINGHAM CITYPaik Seung-ho joined Birmingham on January 30 from K League 1 side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, where he played a crucial role since 2021. His football journey includes formative years in Europe, starting with the Barcelona youth system in 2010. However, he faced challenges and limited game time due to FIFA's Article 19 "Protection of Minors" policy, eventually moving to Girona and then 2. Bundesliga side Darmstadt 98 in 2019.

After a successful stint in the K League with Jeonbuk, winning titles in 2021 and 2022, Paik returned to Europe, joining Birmingham. His return was facilitated in part by earning military exemption through a gold medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games last fall.

With Paik's arrival, there are currently two Korean players in the Championship, including Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City. Despite the absence of a Korean derby this season, as fixtures between the sides have concluded, Birmingham will face Sheffield Wednesday on Friday in their next match.

Sayart 

Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com