Sultan bin Hamdan’s leadership character is inspiring for the team.. Park Young-woo.. a university graduate with world-class player’s attributes
Park: my transfer to Al Ain is a historic moment in my football career
All Asian clubs are well aware of the strength of Al “Al-Zaeem” in the AFC Champions League
I learn Arabic at the club by an administrative decision.. next year I will speak Arabic fluently
Al Ain is a great team, so it should not be affected by any absences
I respect the culture of this country and admire the Emirati customs and traditions
The Kandura has become my favorite outfit, and I’d like to wear it daily like Al Ain people
Ulsan fans’ reaction of organizing a campaign on social media against my transfer decision surprised me
Al Ain has an enchanting nature and wonderful calmness and distinctive with its location and tourist landmarks
I closed my personal accounts on social media due to an unfavorable situation
Calm by nature, gentle in his dealings, professional in every detail, respects his profession, colleagues, and everyone he deals with. He is the “international” South Korean, Park Young-woo, a football player for Al Ain and his national team.
He speaks about Al Ain Club which made him a transfer offer before the end of the football season in his country and about these historical moments, expressing his deep gratitude, appreciation, and respect for the club’s management which trusted in his capabilities, expressing his admiration for Al Ain Club facilities, professional management, and the family spirit that defines the team’s dynamics.
He began the interview by confirming his readiness to engage with the players, coaching staff, and everyone associated with the club and his commitment to demonstrating the spirit of victory and fighting for the Al Ain badge. He emphasized that all Al Ain players are required to approach every local or continental competition with the required seriousness, always keeping their promise to bring joy to the loyal and best fans.
Leadership character
He emphasized that His Excellency Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al Ain Sports and Cultural Club, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Affairs of Al Ain Football Club Company, is a leading sports figure dedicated to developing professional concepts, a reality experienced by him since joining the club.
My Relationship with Football
The “international” South Korean, Park Young-woo, player for Al Ain and his national team, spoke about his relationship with football as my peers, stating that it became prominent during the hosting of the 17th edition of the FIFA World Cup by South Korea and Japan in 2002. Then, they were fascinated by football in South Korea which has been prepared well to host the most important international event. He was playing football since he was seven, but at his tenth year and after the World Cup, he actively started looking for playing regularly amid the growing interest and beautiful dreams surrounding football in the spirits of children and parents.
Challenges and fears
Regarding the first challenges he confronted in his football career, he said: “In football, there are various challenges but the first is associated with childhood as a crucial stage where I began my early steps and encountered different mentalities, not only among players but also among coaches. In fact, most of them were kind, but also there were decisive and firm characters, which was somewhat intimidating for a child, so I felt somewhat frightened and that was not an easy experiment. Consequently, I moved from one football school to another, as I was fond of football, searching for coaches who could nurture my childhood passion for football.”
Bachelor Degree in Sports Science
He continued: during my time in school, I aimed to learn football that aligned with my childhood dreams till I joined the university, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in the College of Sports Science and Physical Activities, in which my graduation thesis was entitled “Sports for All”. I believe I did not face significant challenges until I joined the leading Emirati football club.
Childhood Star
Regarding the star he admired in his childhood, he said: “Actually, I admired several Korean players and stars since my early childhood, most prominent of which was the legend Hong Myung-bo, who shone in the World Cup and later became my favorite coache at Ulsan Hyundai in Korea before joining Al Ain during the World Cup. I also admired Yoo Sang-chul whom I deeply respect and appreciate, in addition to Park Ji Sung who played for Manchester United and whom I loved so much.
Media Pressure
Regarding how the Korean media covered the news of hid transfer to Al Ain, especially considering your prominent status in your national team and your pivotal role in your previous team’s lineup, he said: “When media and social media started spreading the news of my transfer to Al Ain, my previous team was about to play a crucial and decisive match, a derby, competing for the title. We were playing against the second-placed team, and we had no choice but to win to strengthen our lead and widen the gap. At that time, the fans organized a campaign for me to stay and not move to Al Ain. However, as the news started to leak, things had actually been settled to the extent that I began receiving calls from my relatives and some club officials urging me not to leave. It wasn’t easy for my fans, admirers, and those close to me inside the team, who expressed their rejection and reluctance for me to leave due to their loyalty to the club, but, when I moved, they congratulated me wholeheartedly.”
A Historical Moment
Regarding his reception by his new teammates when he arrived at Al Ain camp, he said: “It was an exceptional moment, being the first time for me in professional football outside Korea. Actually, I was a bit tense and anxious because I only knew the Korean language. I was determined to figure out how to communicate with everyone, but I was surprised by the celebration of my new teammates upon my joining Al Ain which left a positive reaction on me as they were friendly and even asked me to sing a song. I can’t forget that moment at all.”
Family Spirit
Responding to a question about the closest players to him, he said: “The family spirit prevails in the club among everyone, and I has a marvelous relationship with all the players. But if you ask me to name some, I would choose Captain Bandar, Khaled Issa, Kaku, Yahya Nader, Khaled Al Hashmi, and Erik, as the closest to everyone.”
Injury Troubles
Regarding his absence due to injury in some crucial matches, he said: “Actually, all football players are bothered by injuries because their desire to participate is greater in contributing to their team’s targets. However, the reality emphasizes that big clubs should not be influenced by the absence of any player. Al Ain is a strong team, so we shouldn’t be influenced by absences. I hope no player experiences the feeling of staying away due to injury during the season, but this remains part of the game, but it can be avoided with good preparation during morning and evening training sessions and focus during matches.”
My Story with Arabic
About the Arabic words he learned during the four months at the club, he said: “I believe the most repeated words are those I learned at the beginning of my journey, such as ‘As-salamu alaykum’ (Peace be upon you), ‘Wa alaykumu as-salam’ (And upon you be peace), ‘Kayfa al-hal’ (How are you?), and ‘Alhamdulillah’ (Praise be to Allah)… From there, my journey with the Arabic language began. The club’s management provided educational lessons for non-Arabic speakers, and I have a teacher who teaches me Arabic and I’m so motivated for this challenge, and I will do my best to make my next interview with you in Arabic fluently.”
Al Ain Dar Al Zain “City of Beauty”
Responding to a question about his knowledge of Al Ain city, he said: “Certainly, Al Ain is a charming city with its nature, wonderful with its calmness, and distinctive with its location and tourist landmarks. I enjoyed visiting Al Jahili Fort, shopping centers, and I took my wife to visit the zoo. I enjoy my family life in this city, and I sent an invitation to my parents, and they had a more than wonderful impression of Al Ain.”
Favorite Attire
About his feelings when wearing the Emirati “Landura” in the National Day, he said: “Actually it was a wonderful surprise for me at that time because I admired Al Ain people wearing it in malls, markets, and even in the stadiums. It makes you respect the culture of this country. Therefore, I wished to wear the Emirati national attire, and when it happened, my joy was immense. The reactions of my wife, family, and acquaintances were distinctive after seeing me wearing the Emirati national attire.”
My viewpoint on Social Media
Regarding the reasons behind his absence from social media platforms, he said: “I had social media accounts in South Korea, but I closed them due to an unpleasant situation, and I prefer not to mention it. I haven’t thought about opening new accounts. They asked me to open an Instagram account as a player for Al Ain, and I’m still considering it, but I won’t make my decision now.”
Favorite Dish
When asked about his favorite food in the UAE, he said: “In my opinion, lamb is delicious, and personally, I love Mandi.”
Aspirations for Championships
Regarding his ambitions with Al Ain, he said: “I came from a big club where I won championships. In the year I moved to Al Ain, we won the title. My aspirations with The Boss “Al Zaeem” are to continue ascending the podiums of victory. We have a capable coach who was a legendary player and knows how to deal with the players. I hope we succeed with him in achieving the club’s targets and bringing joy to the loyal Al Ain fans.”
AFC Champions League
Regarding the draw for the AFC Champions League, he said: “After successfully passing the group stage, we realize that each stage’s task is tougher than the previous one, and the 16 teams that qualified for the next stage are strong. Therefore, our mission won’t be easy, but Al Ain is a strong team, known throughout the continent, and I’m confident that we can achieve good results in the AFC Champions League.”
Hoping for a UAE-Korean Final
When asked about the team he wishes to face if Al Ain reaches the final with East Asian clubs, he said: “I definitely hope to face a Korean team because Korean clubs left a good impression in the AFC Champions League.”
Al Ain’s Fans
Park sent a message to Al Ain fans, stating: “Al Ain, with its brand, identity, and history, is capable of achieving accomplishments as long as it receives the required support, strong backing, in addition to the trust of its loyal fans in the team. All players strive to achieve the club’s targets outlined by the management before the season starts, and we will fight for this badge to make you happy and celebrate together at the end of the season with our achievements.”
Message to Al Ain Fans
He concluded his statement with a message expressing his deep gratitude and appreciation to the management of Al Ain Club, which placed its trust in him, and in his teammates who maintain a family spirit and unity.
Key Facts
The “international” South Korean, Park Young-woo, is considered one of the prominent midfielders in his country. The 29-year-old Park was crowned the best player in the South Korean league last season, enhancing his capability to be a strong addition to Al Ain which aims to reclaim ADNOC Pro League title in the current season and prepares for the continental competition.
Park Young-woo played 195 matches with the Korean Ulsan Hyundai, scoring 9 goals and providing 8 assists. Additionally, he scored 2 goals and provided 1 assist in 60 matches with FC Seoul.
