Son Jun-ho poised to join amateur club after 10 months detained in China

Football

Published: 15 Apr. 2024, 13:52 Updated: 15 Apr. 2024, 16:52

Son Jun-ho poised to join amateur club after 10 months detained in China

Korea's Son Jun-ho, left, vies for the ball with Brazil's Lucas Paqueta during a 2022 World Cup round of 16 match at Stadium 974 in Doha, Qatar on Dec. 6, 2022. [YONHAP]

Former Shandong Taishan midfielder Son Jun-ho, the Korean footballer who was detained in China for 319 days and released last month, looks set to join K5 team Kunyoong FC.

Korean media reported Monday that the 31-year-old could join fifth-tier K5 team Kunyoong FC. The K5 is an amateur Korean football league that sits below the semi-professional K4.

The possible move to the amateur team comes as Son reportedly needs time to find his feet before returning to a pro league. According to reports, he hopes to return to top-tier football during the summer transfer window.

Son has not played football since his last appearance for Shandong in the Chinese Super League on May 10 last year.

He was detained on May 12 last year at an airport in Shanghai in what China called a bribery investigation. Chinese authorities formally arrested him in June, exactly 37 days after detaining him. Under Chinese law, police can detain suspects for up to 37 days before a prosecutor approves an arrest.

The arrest came amid a crackdown on match-fixing in Chinese football but was interpreted as a possible political move aimed at putting pressure on the Korean government. The exact details surrounding Son’s arrest remain unclear. When, where and how his trial took place has not been publicly disclosed.

Son returned to Korea on March 25 after being held in China for 319 days.

With the end of his detention and his name reportedly cleared — Korean newspaper Sports Chosun reported last month that he was found innocent — he is now able to return to the pitch.

Son started his career at K League 1 team Pohang Steelers in 2014 and transferred to fellow K League 1 team Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2018 before joining Shandong in 2021.

He saw the most success during his time at Jeonbuk where he played as a regular pick and won the league in 2018, 2019 and 2020, when Jeonbuk lifted the Korean FA Cup — now called the Korea Cup.

He also has 20 caps under his belt, making his first cap in 2018, and went on to play in the 2022 World Cup. He last appeared for the national team in a friendly against Uruguay in March last year.

As well as having defensive skills, he plays a central role in a build-up process with accurate passes.

Returning to a pro league could put Son on the radar of a yet-to-be named national team manager that could take the helm in May.

The permanent national team manager position has been vacant since the KFA sacked Jurgen Klinsmann in February. The KFA said earlier this month that it will appoint a permanent manager by early or mid-May.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]