"National team midfielder" Baek Seung-ho (28, Birmingham City) raised a trophy after 40 matches. Now he will compete in the English Championship (second division) starting next season.

Birmingham City officially announced on the 12th (Korea time) via the club's website, "Birmingham has claimed the League One champion crown. Birmingham has had the best season in the club's history."

On the same day, second-place Wrexham drew 0-0 with Wigan. Thanks to this, Birmingham, which accumulated 95 points (29 wins, 8 draws, 3 losses) over 40 matches, confirmed the championship, leading Wrexham (82 points), which played two more matches, by 13 points, regardless of the results of the remaining matches.

Birmingham said, "Wrexham drew 0-0 against Wigan. This means that Birmingham secured the championship title despite not playing a match over the weekend. Having confirmed automatic promotion by defeating Peterborough during the week, Birmingham crowned itself champion with a record-breaking season."

Earlier, Birmingham secured at least second place by defeating Peterborough 2-1 on the 9th, achieving promotion. Additionally, Wrexham sliding down enabled Birmingham to confirm the championship after 40 matches.

This is not the end. Birmingham recorded 39 wins across all competitions this season, including 29 wins in the league. Having already surpassed the previous club record of 36 wins set in the 1994-1995 season, they have set a new record for most wins in a season in club history.

Since its founding in 1875, this marks the best moment in its 150-year history. Now, every additional win for Birmingham adds to the new history.

Birmingham can also set a new League One record. If they win all their remaining 6 matches, they will achieve 113 points. They may even challenge the all-time record in English football by surpassing 103 points set by Wolverhampton in the 2013-2014 season. Just three more wins would tie them with Aston Villa's League One record for most wins (32 wins).

A double this season is also possible. Birmingham will face Peterborough in the EFL Trophy final on the 13th. A victory here would mean lifting another trophy. The match will be held at Wembley Stadium, the spiritual home of English football.

Birmingham experienced the pain of relegation for the first time since the 1991-1992 season last season. They hoped to rebound by signing Baek Seung-ho during the winter transfer window, but after a chaotic period with four managerial changes, they finished 22nd in the Championship. Tony Mowbray, who signed Baek Seung-ho in January 2024, stepped down due to health issues, and the team collapsed under an interim management structure.

Birmingham did not hesitate to spend money in the transfer market to quickly return to the second tier. They set a League One transfer record by betting on £20 million (approximately 37.7 billion won) to sign Fulham prospect Jay Stansfield. Additionally, they spent nearly €35 million (approximately 55.8 billion won) by bringing in Emil Hansson, Tomoki Iwata, and Kristoffer Klaar.

They also succeeded in retaining Baek Seung-ho. He joined the team during the season but established himself as the "ace of the midfield." This drew interest from several teams, including Leeds, which dreams of a return to the Premier League, as well as Stoke City, Sunderland, and Sheffield United.

However, Birmingham rejected all proposals. Baek Seung-ho also committed to a four-year contract extension in October last year, promising his future. He noted, "I am really happy. With the new season beginning, I feel we can accomplish something great. We are following a good process, and I believe staying here is the best thing for my career."

Baek Seung-ho's choice proved to be right. He participated in a total of 43 matches across all competitions this season, scoring 1 goal and providing 3 assists, playing as a starting midfielder. In the league, he appeared in 35 out of 40 matches, with 32 of those being starts. He now stands as a key member of Birmingham's strongest team in its 150-year history.

His skills have also caught the attention of locals in the UK. "Birmingham Live" praised him after the recent Barnsley match, saying, "His ability to shake off opponents near the touchline in the second half was mesmerizing. No player in League One's history has possessed such talent. Simply put, Baek Seung-ho is a player who should not be here."

Now, Baek Seung-ho and Birmingham are looking toward higher goals. Dominating League One, they are set to aim for promotion to the Premier League.

However, another South Korean national team member, Lee Myung-jae, faces an uncertain future. He signed a short-term contract with Birmingham during the winter transfer window to challenge on the European stage. However, he has not played even a single minute since then, becoming a forgotten name. It is reported that Lee Myung-jae is likely to leave the team regardless of the championship.

[Photo] Birmingham City, League One social media.

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