Football Bohemian here.
On the morning of the 26th, the Chinese media outlet Sina.com reported on the sudden trip to Korea by Choi Kang-hee, the head coach of Shandong Taishan. At 65 years old, Choi Kang-Hee is well-known to Korean fans for leading Jeonbuk Hyundai to five K League titles and two AFC Champions League titles.
Choi Kang-Hee has also made a name for himself in China, managing Tianjin Quanjian, Dalian Yifang, Shanghai Shenhua, and most recently, Shandong Taishan. Notably, he led Shanghai Shenhua to win the Chinese FA Cup in 2019. He took over the helm of Shandong Taishan following the sudden dismissal of former coach Hao Wei due to corruption charges in 2023 and has been credited with quickly stabilizing the team.
On the morning of the 26th, Shandong Taishan announced via Chinese social media that Choi Kang-Hee would urgently return to Korea for medical treatment due to health issues. During his absence, Coach Kim Min-hyeon will take over the team. The official statement from Shandong Taishan is as follows:
"Due to health issues, our head coach Choi Kang-hee will undergo medical examinations and treatment in Korea. Based on the examination results, the doctors have recommended that head coach undergo further observation and treatment for the next two weeks. During this period, Assistant Coach Kim Min-hyeon will take charge of the team's training and matches. We hope for Head coach's speedy recovery and return."
Meanwhile, other Chinese media have reported that there is controversy among Chinese football fans over whether Choi Kang-hee's sudden trip to Korea is a temporary medical leave or an indirect resignation.
山东泰山主帅崔康熙曲线下课？再让子弹飞一会儿
山东泰山主帅崔康熙曲线下课？再让子弹飞一会儿
sports.sina.com.cn
The Chinese media outlet Yinpashuoqiu, which provides articles to Sina.com, noted, "It is highly likely that Choi Kang-heei's health issues are genuine. The high temperatures and humidity during the summer can be taxing even for a person in their prime without significant work stress. However, the team's poor performance and external issues may have also contributed to Choi Kang-Hee's stress."
The report added, "Some speculate that Choi Kang-hee may have agreed with the club to resign voluntarily. Recently, there were rumors that a prestigious K League club was looking to bring Choi Kang-hee back to Korea. However, the club's official announcement clearly states their expectation for Choi Kang-hee's return."
Choi Kang-hee has faced criticism throughout the 2024 season due to the team's inconsistent performance. On July 6th, Shandong Taishan suffered a historic 0-6 defeat against rival Shanghai Shenhua, which drew significant criticism. As of the ongoing 2024 season of the Chinese Super League, Shandong Taishan ranks 5th with 9 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses in 20 matches. Considering that Shandong Taishan's minimum goal is to qualify for the AFC Champions League, the current performance is disappointing.
I wish Choi Kang-hee a speedy recovery as he returns to Korea for medical treatment.
This has been Football Bohemian.
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