The soccer player in question was acquired by a league club just last summer, and was promptly sent away on loan to Olympiacos, and then to FC Seoul. Hwang’s six-month loan term with Seoul will end on June 30th, and as a seasoned striker, he’s keeping a watchful eye on Nottingham Forest’s performances. He’s also curious as to whether he’ll have any opportunities to play when he returns. “Nottingham had a victory yesterday, so the point differential isn’t too large,” Hwang shared during a May 10th interview with JoongAng Ilbo, one day after Nottingham Forest triumphed 4-3 over Southampton. “I do keep up with the highlights and check the scores.
As of May 14th, Nottingham Forest occupies the 16th spot in the 20-team table, situated just outside of the relegation zone but still faced with potential danger. Hwang, however, chooses to remain tight-lipped regarding the club’s prospects in the final weeks of the season.
After debuting in Europe with Bordeaux in 2019, Hwang established himself as a regular starter and scored 29 goals over three seasons, earning the distinction of being the top scorer. However, Bordeaux faced severe financial difficulties during this time, and they ultimately finished last in the league and declared bankruptcy at the close of the 2021-22 season. As a result, Hwang was transferred to Nottingham before being loaned to the Greek club Olympiacos, as Bordeaux faced the possibility of a double relegation.
Although Hwang experienced triumph in his soccer career while playing in France, his success did not carry over to Greece where he was unable to score any goals. Consequently, he swiftly vanished from the roster.
After his stint with the LA Galaxy, Hwang went back to Korea on a six-month loan to play for FC Seoul. According to manager An Ik-soo, Hwang has been performing well, showcasing a solid performance. In the current 2023 K League season, Hwang has already scored two goals and assisted in one. He has also been instrumental in An’s build-up and has actively participated in defense. Throughout his career, Hwang has faced some criticism for playing too forward as a striker. However, An has repositioned him to play in a more conventional midfield role.
An remarked, “Hwang’s position is equivalent to that of scoring 15 goals.” Hwang seems to be fond of his new position, stating, “If I were purely self-interested, I would focus solely on scoring goals up front. However, it is more crucial for me to generate openings through my maneuvers and guide my team towards triumph.
Despite being offered a deal from Minnesota United in the Major League Soccer league in the United States, the 30-year-old athlete declined the opportunity. According to Hwang, the conditions offered by the American team were superior to those offered by European teams. After spending three seasons with Bordeaux, the athlete’s progress became impeded. However, the individual desired to increase their physical fitness and tackle a new challenge that would allow them to demonstrate their abilities once more.
Despite the fact that I traveled to Europe at a more mature age of 27, I possess a clear goal in mind.
While playing for Bordeaux, Hwang had the opportunity to compete against some of Paris Saint-Germain’s most renowned players, including Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe.
According to Hwang, each of the three players possessed the skill of perseverance when presented with even the slightest opportunity to score. This is a trait that Hwang himself was able to internalize and learn from.