Middle East-based Koreans in Asian Champions League

Former South Korean international Jang Hyun-soo / Yonhap

By John Duerden

We may have to wait until June, when South Korean clubs start their Asian Champions League campaign, but there have been some Koreans in action in the tournament already.

The Asian Champions League, Asia's premier club competition, has expanded from its usual 32 teams to 40. Although the timing may not be great, as we are in the midst of a global pandemic, the expansion has added extra interest. The tournament is split into two geographic zones. The eastern half will start next month, while the west has already finished the group stage.

Jang Hyun-soo is one of South Korea's most successful exports, as he plays for one of Asia's biggest clubs: Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. The defensive midfielder, who can also play in the middle of defense, is underrated and doesn't make many headlines. Well, he made headlines in 2018 when he was found to have falsified his military service records and received a lifetime ban from the national team.

The year after Jang moved to Riyadh and ended his first season by winning the Champions League, was the third time Al-Hilal ruled Asia, obtaining the same number of titles as the previous record-holder, the Pohang Steelers. Last year, Jang won the Saudi Pro League title.

Last week, Jang also helped Al-Hilal get through the group stage, finishing second behind Istiklol of Tajikistan. Jang offered his usual solid presence on the team and ― just as he was during his time playing for Guangzhou in China and FC Tokyo in Japan ― is a fan favorite. While he may not do the spectacular, he is missed when he is absent.

Some of Jang's Korean compatriots in Qatar did not fare as well. Nam Tae-hee and Jung Woo-young have been playing under Coach Xavi Hernandez for Al-Sadd of Doha. Xavi is one of the most successful players ever, having helped Spain win the 2010 World Cup, as well as having led Barcelona to four UEFA Champions League titles and eight Spanish titles. At the tender age of 41, it is seen as just a matter of time before he returns to Spain to take charge of Barcelona. It could be soon.

Hernandez guided Al-Sadd, helped by Nam, who has been playing in Qatar since 2012 and has been consistently excellent throughout that time, through the domestic season unbeaten. With one of the world's hottest young coaches in charge, big things were expected of Al-Sadd in Asia, but the team struggled to replicate its domestic form in Asia and did not make it out of the group stage.

Some fans and sections of the Korean media have reacted negatively to stars such as Nam, Jang and Jung going to play in the Middle East. The reason is that these leagues are seen as not being as good as the K-League and all about the money. Yet little to no attention is paid to these leagues, so nobody really knows.

If you move to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates or Qatar ― the three lucrative leagues in the west ― then you run the risk of being forgotten, unless you reappear in the latter stages of the AFC Champions League. Jang may still be there in the latter stages, but the Qatari pair will not. It remains to be seen how Jang will do if he faces Korean opposition later in the tournament.