Usually, replacing the captain of a team is an option that is brought out to overcome negative situations such as poor team performance, replacement of the command tower, and disciplinary action due to an accident. However, FC Seoul, the ‘prominent team’, changed their captaincy during the season. It was a will to add momentum to the good atmosphere, and it is noticeable that the player’s will worked. 

On the 9th, Seoul announced the change of captain ahead of the match against Gwangju FC in the 12th round of the K League 1. The captain changed from Ilyuchenko (33) to Osmar (35). 

Regarding the reason for the change of captain, Seoul coach Ahn Ik-soo said, “It was the request of the former captain Ilyuchenko himself.” Ilyuchenko메이저놀이터, who lost confidence due to sluggish play, said he wanted to focus on recovering his condition. Coach Ahn accepted the request to replace the captain, saying, “Ilyuchenko is a player who continues to be an example to the players from the past,” and “He is a player who will show that in the future.” 

Ilyuchenko became the captain because the team believed in his professionalism. Ilyuchenko became the captain in February, when he had only been in Seoul for half a year. He joined Seoul in July last year, during the season, and played a big role in the Seoul uniform, scoring 7 goals in 16 games in the 2022 season.

However, he is suffering from poor form due to reduced playing time this season. Coach Ahn Ik-soo said, “I continued to oppose (the change of captain), but the player himself had a strong will. It was an inevitable choice,” he explained. On the other hand, ‘Seoul 9th ​​year’ Osmar, who took over the armband, already has experience as captain. In 2016, he became the first foreign player captain of the Seoul club, and he shared the team’s championship that year.

Coach Ahn Ik-soo pointed to a frame hanging in the interview room and said Osmar was “a player without a doubt.” The frame contained images of the Seoul players who won the championship in 2016. 

On the other hand, Osmar, who faced the reporters in the mixed zone after the victory over Gwangju on the 9th, said, “I was surprised because it was something I hadn’t thought of at all,” and said, “I talked to Ilyuchenko, and he said this choice was ‘the best for the team’. . I was surprised, but I respected him.” Then, when asked how he felt about taking the captaincy after seven years, Osmar said, “Even if you are not captain, you have a role to lead the team. And after joking, there is no big difference at my age,” he said, “I am proud of being able to stand in front of many fans and be the first to enter the game.” 

Coach Ahn Ik-soo expected that the influence of the two foreign players with excellent ‘professionalism’ would lead to a positive direction for the entire team.