Former World Cup striker Kim Shin-wook will lead South Korea's offense at an upcoming regional tournament.
Head coach Uli Stielike on Monday announced his 23-man roster for the 2015 East Asian Cup, set to take place next month in Wuhan, China.
Kim, a striker for Ulsan Hyundai who played for South Korea at last year's FIFA World Cup in Brazil, has made the national team for the first time on Stielike's watch. The German coach took over the team last fall.
Kim broke his right tibia during the Asian Games last September and after-effects of the injury have kept him off Stielike's squad until this week.
Kim has eight goals in 22 matches for Ulsan in the top-flight K League Classic this year.
Stielike said he'd kept his eyes on Kim and patiently waited for him to recover from his leg injury.
"That he's scored eight goals in the league was a big factor (in the selection)," the coach said. "We've watched him closely lately and his fitness level wasn't a concern."
Other World Cup veterans include Ulsan goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu and Guangzhou Evergrande defensive back Kim Young-gwon.
South Korea typically names about a dozen players from overseas leagues for international matches. However, the East Asian Cup isn't on the official FIFA calendar and European clubs, whose seasons kick off in August, aren't obliged to release their international players.
With his hand forced, Stielike selected six players from Japan, three from China and the rest from the domestic league.
The South Koreans will report to the camp at the National Football Center (NFC) in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul, next Monday. They will then depart for China on July 31.
South Korea will open the tournament against China on Aug. 2. It will then face Japan on Aug. 5, followed by North Korea on Aug. 9.
Japan is the highest ranked of the four nations at 50th, followed by South Korea at 52nd, China at 77th and North Korea at 129th.
This will be the sixth edition of the biennial regional event. South Korea was the inaugural champion in 2003 and added its second title in 2008. China won in 2005 and 2010, and Japan was the 2013 champ when the event was held in South Korea.
Of 23 players, 18 were born in 1990 or later, making this the youngest team during Stielike's time here.
"China and North Korea will field their strongest squads, while Japan may be faced with a similar situation as our team," Stielike added. "We'll play the best we can with the players that we have selected."
Despite missing Europe-based stalwarts, such as Bayer Leverkusen winger Son Heung-min and Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yueng, Stielike said he believes his team isn't any less competitive.
"In football, you can have all the talented players and still not have the teamwork," the coach said. "We have some holes, but willpower, cohesion and techniques can lead to good performances."
South Korea and Japan will renew their heated rivalry with a new twist at the East Asian Cup. Japan is currently coached by Vahid Halilhodzic, a Bosnian who led Algeria to a 4-2 victory over South Korea at last year's World Cup.
Stielike said his players shouldn't get caught up with exacting revenge on Halilhodzic.
"If you prepare for matches with revenge on your mind, you're bound to lose your identity and color," the coach said. "We have to be careful with this. No matter what happened in the past, we have to stay focused on the present." (Yonhap)