"I miss you, respected teacher."
Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) expressed gratitude by mentioning his late mentor, former coach Yoo Sang-chul, on Teacher's Day.
Paris Saint-Germain released an interview video featuring Lee Kang-in in celebration of Teacher's Day through the club's official social media channel on the 15th (Korean time). In the video, Lee noted, “All the coaches were special. Many people helped me significantly and helped me grow,” before adding, “Especially, Coach Yoo Sang-chul, with whom I worked on the show ‘Fly Shoot Dori’ during my childhood, is the most special person.”
He continued, “I will make more great memories in the future, work harder, and learn diligently,” leaving a message for the fans.
The connection between Lee Kang-in and Coach Yoo Sang-chul dates back to 2007. At that time, 7-year-old Lee met Coach Yoo through the entertainment program ‘Fly Shoot Dori,’ and Coach Yoo recognized Lee's potential early on. Subsequently, based on Coach Yoo's recommendation, Lee went to study abroad with the youth team of Valencia, Spain, in 2011, marking the beginning of his full-fledged European career.
Lee Kang-in made his professional debut at Valencia and grew rapidly. He played his first-team debut in the Copa del Rey in 2018 and made his presence known in La Liga the following year. After passing through Mallorca, he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain in 2023, and to date, he has appeared in 81 matches, scoring 11 goals and providing 11 assists, establishing himself as a key midfielder for the team.
Paris Saint-Germain, which includes Lee Kang-in, has already secured the titles for Ligue 1 and the Trophée des Champions and has reached the final of the UEFA Champions League, earning a chance to challenge for the European title. The final opponent is Inter Milan from Italy, and the match is scheduled for June 1st. Lee stands on the verge of becoming the second Korean player to win the Champions League after Park Ji-sung.
The special reason for Lee Kang-in's interview is that his affection and respect for Coach Yoo, who has recognized him until now, remain unchanged. Coach Yoo made his mark in Korean football history by scoring in both the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and also served as the manager of Incheon United. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2018 and battled the illness until his passing on June 7, 2021.
Even during his illness, Coach Yoo expressed his desire, saying, “Once I get better, I want to go to Spain to see how Kang-in trains and prepares for matches,” showing that he never lost interest in his disciple.
Last year, on the anniversary of Coach Yoo's death, Lee Kang-in expressed his affection by posting, “I miss you, respected teacher,” on social media. And on this year’s Teacher's Day, he mentioned his name once again to convey his unwavering gratitude.
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