Kang-in Lee is in favor of Valencia in more ways than one. Not only does it drive the club’s symbol in Asia and its local South Korea, but its non-public skills and qualities can also move the team forward on the field, according to their club.
At the age of 19, the striker joined the Valencia quarry in 2011, having already gained popularity after demonstrating his football skills as a child on television in his home country.
Since then, Lee’s perseverance has allowed him to climb the youth ladder and sign for the first team. In 2019, he became Valencia’s youngest foreign debutant in La Liga and is now a vital member of coach Javi Gracia’s current team.
In Spanish football, however, Lee has what it takes to be the main protagonist. Although it has not yet had a massive impact, his years of delight in development and play in Spain make it unique, according to Sean Bai, general manager. valencia’s academy.
“It makes his story separate from that of many Asian players,” he tells me of Lee, for whom he says the sky is the limit.
“Kang-in’s history in Valencia is based on breaking boundaries, talent, determination and adaptability.
“This is a benchmark for those in South Korea and Asia who dream of playing professional football in Europe one day. “
The statistics resulting from Lee’s influence are already impressive. Last season, the audience for Valencia’s matches in South Korea increased by 260% compared to the previous campaign, while it was basically used as a substitute.
When he made an appearance, other people reacted. Interactions on Valencia’s South Korean Facebook page exceeded the average by 1,082% when he scored an overdue winner against Real Valladolid towards the end of the season.
This crusade will be even more exciting for Valencia and Lee, who has already done a review of what he may be offering and played a decisive role in two of Valencia’s 4 goals against levante in the first day of the season.
“Kang-in’s growing popularity will help the symbol of Valencia in Asia,” Bai continues.
“Asian players have caught the attention of football enthusiasts in Asia, which is a wonderful region with a keel interest in football. “
Jorge Garcia, the club’s marketing director, knows that the possibility of a player like Lee influencing the club’s expansion into foreign markets, especially in a country like South Korea.
“In South Korea there are several,” he informs me.
“This is a country where another 36 million people declare themselves football enthusiasts and an evolved country where many primary brands come from strategic sectors of global sponsorship: automotive, electronics, banks.
“The League has 800 million fans worldwide, of which 482 million come from Asia and the Pacific. We know there’s a lot of interest there and we have to take advantage of it. “
The striker is a great combination for Valence. Su progression honors his academy, which now has a successful South Korean history to boast about along with the talented Spanish names who have also evolved there; a list that includes José Luis Gaya, Jordi Alba, Ferran Torres, David Silva and Isco.
The search for new Valencia stars in South Korea is an ongoing project. The club is about to set up a fully established soccer academy in the capital Seoul and in Busan, the largest city in the country at the moment.
Lee is an example of how an individual can shape a club’s leadership. A look at its termination clause, widely quoted at 80 million euros, shows how vital it is for Valencia and in the future.
I am an autonomous journalist specialized in Spain, a country in which I have lived and that I love, lately I am writing articles for SUR in English, one of the
I am an autonomous journalist specializing in football in Spain, a country in which I have lived and that I love. Lately I am writing articles for SUR in English, one of the foreign language editions of the SOUTH Journal of Andalusia. In this publication, I basically stay with the first local team, Málaga CF, which made a strong impression by reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2013, but which now plays at the time of Spain. I have also contributed to World Soccer Brand and Magazine. Check out writing stories that scratch the surface and about football culture.