Seoul World Cup Stadium on March 20. Right wing-back Ahn Hyun-beom (28, Jeju United) is possessed by Gareth Bale. His burst of pace opened up the opposing FC Seoul defense.

After creating a single chance with his explosive pace, Ahn set up Yuri Jonatan’s opening goal and sat on the spot. It was a moment where Ahn’s dominance on the right side of the field translated into an offensive point for the 2023 season.

Ahn revealed his desire for the national team to the media after the game. “I hope you reporters will write to me to try out for the team,” he said. Ahn’s recent form has been well-recognized in the K League. His pace was considered to be good enough to make the national team, and he nodded in agreement that his chance would come one day.

Finally, Ahn Hyun-beom wears the Taeguk mark. On June 5, South Korea national soccer team head coach Jürgen Klinsmann announced his 23-man roster for June’s A-match trials against Peru (June 16 in Busan) and El Salvador (June 20 in Daejeon). The players were selected after Klinsmann’s staff spent two months traveling around the country and abroad.

Ahn Hyun-beom will also make his A-Match debut under Klinsmann. The word of mouth of ‘he’s good in the league’ was definitely important. “I haven’t seen him play yet,” Klinsmann said of Ahn’s selection. The recommendation came from advisor Chadoori and coach Michael Kim, who are familiar with Korean players.

Klinsmann will see Ahn in action soon. “I’m going to see him in action this Saturday,” he said. The timing is perfect for Jeju to check his competitiveness, as the team will be traveling to Ulsan Hyundai to take on the leaders.

Ahn’s advantages are clear. He’s one of the best running backs in the K League. When he accelerates, he’s hard to control. As an attacking 메이저놀이터 wingback, he excels at breaking down opposing flanks alongside midfielders and wing forwards. Klinsmann also identified him as a “strong and aggressive player one-on-one” and said, “That’s what he is. It feels good as a coach to see an aggressive player,” he said, adding that he will be keeping a close eye on him to see if he can crack in on-the-ball situations.

Ahn is confident. “I knew I was fast from a young age,” he says, “and I tried to capitalize on it. I tried to recognize and utilize my advantages. I kept trying,” he said, showing a firm belief in his progression to the semi-professional level.

Upon hearing the news of his selection to the national team, Ahn tightened his laces even more. “If I join the national team, I want to show what I can do well. I think I was selected because I have advantages that are different from others. I want to show what I can do.”