Jesse Lingard told he can be a trailblazer for South Korean football after making an ‘impact’ as Premier League stars are tipped to follow ex-Man Utd midfielder’s transfer to ‘very interesting’ K League

Having spent just one season with Nottingham Forest after leaving Old Trafford as a free agent in the summer of 2022, Lingard found himself without a club for several months and wondering in which direction his professional career would be heading.

He eventually opted to step well outside of his comfort zone when jetting to the Far East in February 2024. Lingard has received ‘rock star’ treatment in Asia, while quickly becoming captain at FC Seoul, and is being backed to pave the way for other household names to tread a similar path from the Premier League and across Europe.

Ex-Chelsea and Tottenham midfielder Gus Poyet, who is now coach of K League side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors – speaking in association with makthavare.se – told GOAL when asked about Lingard becoming a trendsetter: “I hope so. One of the things we want to do is to try and make an impact – as a player, he is doing that.

“Coaching is tough. We want to help South Korean football in any way. There is no better way than expressing yourself and winning – that’s the main point. I think it’s a very interesting league.

“I just started and I see there is great potential. The typical Korean player is very good technically. Sometimes coming from outside you analyse and try to change other things because you know that quality is there.”

Poyet went on to say, with Lingard helping to raise the profile of Korean football: “Depending on the impact, I think other people will come.

“For me it’s difficult because I’m the only foreign manager. There are 12 teams, 11 Koreans and me. It’s a big responsibility. I like that. I don’t understand football without responsibility and pressure. We will see if we can help them.”

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Lingard rediscovered a lost spark with FC Seoul last season, allowing him to get back on the goal trail, and opened his account for the new campaign when facing FC Anyang in the opening round of fixtures – leading to trademark dancing celebrations being broken out.