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Initially, Han started earning the minimum federal income for training, which amounted to €1,500 per month and was required to go to Han's personal bank account.<ref name="hrnkinsider"/> Concerns were raised by the [[Italian Parliament]] regarding the destination of this money, as there were suspicions that a significant portion of the salaries of North Korean workers abroad was funnelled directly to the North Korean regime. A parliamentary investigation was carried out, recommending that the Italian Government closely monitor the payment procedures of football clubs to ensure that the transfers are received by the North Korean players themselves and not by the North Korean authorities, in compliance with the worldwide embargo on North Korea. However, no action was taken in Han's case at the time.<ref name="hrnkinsider"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryall |first1=Julian |title=North Korea suspected of 'extorting' young footballer's wages |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/north-korea-suspected-of-extorting-young-footballers-wages/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Telegraph |date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
Initially, Han started earning the minimum federal income for training, which amounted to €1,500 per month and was required to go to Han's personal bank account.<ref name="hrnkinsider"/> Concerns were raised by the [[Italian Parliament]] regarding the destination of this money, as there were suspicions that a significant portion of the salaries of North Korean workers abroad was funnelled directly to the North Korean regime. A parliamentary investigation was carried out, recommending that the Italian Government closely monitor the payment procedures of football clubs to ensure that the transfers are received by the North Korean players themselves and not by the North Korean authorities, in compliance with the worldwide embargo on North Korea. However, no action was taken in Han's case at the time.<ref name="hrnkinsider"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryall |first1=Julian |title=North Korea suspected of 'extorting' young footballer's wages |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/27/north-korea-suspected-of-extorting-young-footballers-wages/ |url-access=subscription |website=The Telegraph |date=27 May 2016}}</ref>


On his first day after arriving at Cagliari, he scored a hat-trick in a friendly training match, impressing the coaching staff who decided to promote him to the first team.<ref name="firsttimefinish"/> Han went on to make three more appearances for the under-19 side in the [[Torneo di Viareggio]] before finally making his full debut on 2 April.<ref name="ibtimes"/> He featured for the final four minutes of a 3–1 victory over [[Palermo F.C.|Palermo]], becoming the first North Korean player to compete in Serie A.<ref>{{cite web |title=North Korean forward Han makes history |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37517895/north-korean-forward-han-kwang-song-makes-history-cagliari |website=ESPN |language=en |date=3 April 2017}}</ref> A week later, in his second appearance, Han scored his first goal for the club, after netting a 95th-minute stoppage time winner past [[Joe Hart]], to seal a 3–2 win over [[Torino FC|Torino]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Henry |title=Han Kwang-Song: North Korean teenager scores in Serie A |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/10/football/gallery/han-kwang-song-north-korea-serie-a-cagliari-torino-joe-hart/index.html |website=edition.cnn |publisher=CNN |language=en |date=10 April 2017}}</ref> thereby becoming the first North Korean to score in Serie A.<ref name="appgoal">{{cite web|url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2017/04/kwang-song-han-the-first-north-korean-to-score-in-serie-a/|title=Kwang Song Han: The First North Korean To Score In Serie A|publisher=forzaitalianfootball.com|date=12 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘I feel at home in Cagliari’: Han Kwang-song makes history as first North Korean to score in Serie A |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/i-feel-at-home-in-cagliari-han-kwang-song-makes-history-as-first-north-korean-to-score-in-serie-a-1.39492 |website=The National |language=en |date=10 April 2017}}</ref> His impressive start in the first team led to a renewal just four days later, earning his first professional contract with Cagliari until 2022, that was set to commence on 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Han con il Cagliari sino al 2022 |url=http://www.cagliaricalcio.com/news/ultimissime/16100/han-con-il-cagliari-sino-al-2022 |website=Cagliari Calcio |language=it |date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/101078/official-cagliari-sign-han-2022|title=Official: Cagliari sign Han to 2022|publisher=Football Italia|date=13 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=North Korean Han signs Cagliari contract |url=https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/37518938/north-korean-kwang-song-han-signs-cagliari-contract-running-2022 |website=ESPN |language=en |date=14 April 2017}}</ref>
On his first day after arriving at Cagliari, he scored a hat-trick in a friendly training match, impressing the coaching staff who decided to promote him to the first team.<ref name="firsttimefinish"/> Han went on to make three more appearances for the under-19 side in the [[Torneo di Viareggio]] before finally making his full debut on 2 April.<ref name="ibtimes"/> He featured for the final four minutes of a 3–1 victory over [[Palermo F.C.|Palermo]], becoming the first North Korean player to compete in Serie A.<ref>{{cite web |title=North Korean forward Han makes history |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37517895/north-korean-forward-han-kwang-song-makes-history-cagliari |website=ESPN |language=en |date=3 April 2017}}</ref> A week later, in his second appearance, Han scored his first goal for the club, after netting a 95th-minute goal past [[Joe Hart]], to bring the final score to 2-3 against [[Torino FC|Torino]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Young |first1=Henry |title=Han Kwang-Song: North Korean teenager scores in Serie A |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2017/04/10/football/gallery/han-kwang-song-north-korea-serie-a-cagliari-torino-joe-hart/index.html |website=edition.cnn |publisher=CNN |language=en |date=10 April 2017}}</ref> thereby becoming the first North Korean to score in Serie A.<ref name="appgoal">{{cite web|url=https://forzaitalianfootball.com/2017/04/kwang-song-han-the-first-north-korean-to-score-in-serie-a/|title=Kwang Song Han: The First North Korean To Score In Serie A|publisher=forzaitalianfootball.com|date=12 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=‘I feel at home in Cagliari’: Han Kwang-song makes history as first North Korean to score in Serie A |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/i-feel-at-home-in-cagliari-han-kwang-song-makes-history-as-first-north-korean-to-score-in-serie-a-1.39492 |website=The National |language=en |date=10 April 2017}}</ref> His impressive start in the first team led to a renewal just four days later, earning his first professional contract with Cagliari until 2022, that was set to commence on 1 July 2017.<ref>{{cite web |title=Han con il Cagliari sino al 2022 |url=http://www.cagliaricalcio.com/news/ultimissime/16100/han-con-il-cagliari-sino-al-2022 |website=Cagliari Calcio |language=it |date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-italia.net/101078/official-cagliari-sign-han-2022|title=Official: Cagliari sign Han to 2022|publisher=Football Italia|date=13 April 2017|access-date=13 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=North Korean Han signs Cagliari contract |url=https://www.espn.in/football/story/_/id/37518938/north-korean-kwang-song-han-signs-cagliari-contract-running-2022 |website=ESPN |language=en |date=14 April 2017}}</ref>


==== 2017–2020: Loans to Perugia and Juventus U23 ====
==== 2017–2020: Loans to Perugia and Juventus U23 ====

Revision as of 09:43, 2 July 2023

Han Kwang-song
Han with North Korea in 2019
Personal information
Full name Han Kwang-song[1]
Date of birth (1998-09-11) 11 September 1998 (age 26)
Place of birth Pyongyang, North Korea[1]
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Forward
Youth career
0000–2013 Chobyong
2013–2014 TecnoFutbol CF
2014–2015 Chobyong
2015–2017 ISM Academy
2017 Cagliari
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2020 Cagliari 12 (1)
2017–2018Perugia (loan) 17 (7)
2018–2019Perugia (loan) 19 (4)
2019–2020Juventus U23 (loan) 17 (0)
2020 Juventus 0 (0)
2020–2021 Al-Duhail 10 (3)
International career
2013–2014 North Korea U16 8 (6)
2015 North Korea U17 4 (0)
2016 North Korea U19 3 (1)
2017–2019 North Korea 10 (1)

Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationHan Gwang-seong
McCune–ReischauerHan Kwang-sŏng
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 August 2020
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 19 November 2019

Han Kwang-song (Korean한광성; Hanja韓光成; born 11 September 1998) is a North Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward.

Early life

Han Kwang-song was born on 11 September 1998 in Pyongyang, North Korea to a working-class family.[2] Han's early interest in football led him to study at the Pyongyang International Football School, a youth academy that annually accommodates 200 aspiring footballers, and was part of a group of athletes sponsored by the North Korean government that afforded them the opportunity to receive training overseas.[3]

His journey in football began in 2013 when he was on a training tour in Europe with the North Korean U-16 national team to identify the best academies for the young footballers.[4] Han travelled to Barcelona that autumn, where he trained at the Marcet Academy (also known as Centro Europeo de Tecnofutbol). During his brief time in Spain, Han and his fellow teammates underwent training, fostering their mentality and honing their talents before their participation in the AFC U-16 Championships in Thailand.[2][4]

The following year, in 2014, Han returned home with the Chobyong Club before joining Perugia's ISM Academy who offered a student visa, allowing Han to move to Italy.[5][6] However, due to FIFA regulations regarding underage players, Han was unable to be registered with any Italian club at the time and his time in Perugia primarily focused on training, tryouts, and learning the Italian language.[7] During this period, Han found support and mentorship from Mauro Costorella, a coach at the academy, who recognised Han's immense potential and took him under his wing, offering guidance and providing him with a place to live for the two years he stayed.[2]

It was not until 2017, as Han turned 18, when reported interests and offer from multiple European clubs including Liverpool and Manchester City came in.[8] Eventually, Han went on a meeting with Liverpool's chief scout, Barry Hunter who, after a presentation, tried to lure him with an offer to meet Steven Gerrard, but failed in the end due to the forward never hearing of him.[2] Sticking with the Italian roots, Han accepted an eight-week trial offer from Cagliari after being advised of his decision from his agent, Sandro Stemperini, and ISM Academy's sport director, Stefano Capozucca.[7][9]

Club career

Cagliari

2017: Debut year

On 10 March 2017, Han Kwang-song signed a contract with Cagliari on youth terms, joining their Primavera squad in the process.[10] This signing made him the first Asian and North Korean player to play for Cagliari.[11] Additionally, Han become the second North Korean player to join a Serie A club, following in the footsteps of Choe Song-hyok who had signed with Fiorentina the year before.[12]

Initially, Han started earning the minimum federal income for training, which amounted to €1,500 per month and was required to go to Han's personal bank account.[5] Concerns were raised by the Italian Parliament regarding the destination of this money, as there were suspicions that a significant portion of the salaries of North Korean workers abroad was funnelled directly to the North Korean regime. A parliamentary investigation was carried out, recommending that the Italian Government closely monitor the payment procedures of football clubs to ensure that the transfers are received by the North Korean players themselves and not by the North Korean authorities, in compliance with the worldwide embargo on North Korea. However, no action was taken in Han's case at the time.[5][13]

On his first day after arriving at Cagliari, he scored a hat-trick in a friendly training match, impressing the coaching staff who decided to promote him to the first team.[2] Han went on to make three more appearances for the under-19 side in the Torneo di Viareggio before finally making his full debut on 2 April.[9] He featured for the final four minutes of a 3–1 victory over Palermo, becoming the first North Korean player to compete in Serie A.[14] A week later, in his second appearance, Han scored his first goal for the club, after netting a 95th-minute goal past Joe Hart, to bring the final score to 2-3 against Torino,[15] thereby becoming the first North Korean to score in Serie A.[16][17] His impressive start in the first team led to a renewal just four days later, earning his first professional contract with Cagliari until 2022, that was set to commence on 1 July 2017.[18][19][20]

2017–2020: Loans to Perugia and Juventus U23

On 7 August 2017, he was loaned to Serie B team Perugia.[21] He debuted for the club in the Coppa Italia third-round game against Benevento, which Perugia won 4–0.[22] On 27 August 2017, Han scored a hat-trick on his Serie B debut for Perugia in a 5–1 win over Virtus Entella.[23] Han scored seven league goals for Perugia in 17 games during the 2017–18 season,[24] before returning to Cagliari on 1 February 2018.[25]

Han's first game as a starter for Cagliari, and in Serie A, came on 27 February in a 5–0 home defeat against Napoli.[26] He played seven league games in the 2017–18 season.[24] On 15 August 2018, Han joined on loan to Perugia for a second time.[27] Initially unable to play due to an injury,[28] Han scored his first seasonal goal against Ascoli in a 0–3 away win.[29] He ended the 2018–19 season with four goals in 20 league games.[24]

On 2 September 2019, Han secured a deadline day move to Juventus on a two-year loan from Cagliari, with an obligation to purchase at the end of the term.[30] The Serie A champions moved him to their reserve team playing in Serie C: Juventus U23.[31] On 26 October, Han was called-up to the first team for the Serie A game against Lecce,[32] becoming the first player from Asia to be called-up for Juventus.[33] On 6 November, he converted a penalty to beat Alessandria 1–0 in a Coppa Italia Serie C match.[34] That was his lone goal for Juventus U23 with the addition of two assists in 20 matches.[35]

Al-Duhail

On 2 January 2020, Juventus bought Han from Cagliari for €3.5 million, before selling him to Qatari side Al-Duhail six days later for €7 million.[36][37] He made his debut for Al-Duhail in the Qatar Cup semi-finals on 10 January, in a 2–0 win over Al-Sailiya, coming on as a substitute for Edmilson Junior in the 83th minute.[38] He lost the final 4–0 to Al Sadd seven days later.[39] Han made his Qatar Stars League debut on 24 January, in a 3–1 win over Al-Arabi.[40]

Han's first goals for Al-Duhail came on 6 February, scoring a brace against Muaither in the Emir of Qatar Cup quarter-finals; his side won 4–0.[41] On 11 February, Han debuted in the Asian Champions League against Persepolis, helping his side win 2–0.[42] Han's first league goal came on 22 February, scoring the maiden goal of the match against Al-Wakrah.[43] He scored in the following two consecutive games, on 27 February and 7 March, against Al-Shahania and Al-Sailiya respectively.[24]

Han scored five goals in 14 domestic games, and played two Asian Champions League games.[24] He helped his side win the Qatar Stars League.[44] Due to the sanctions against North Korea, which prevents North Koreans from working abroad, Han was released by Al-Duhail and was due to return to his country.[45]

International career

Han (right) with North Korea against Lebanon at the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Han's North Korea U16 won the AFC U-16 Championship held in Thailand in September 2014.[46] He scored four goals in the competition, including the equaliser in the final which North Korea won 2–1 against rivals South Korea.[46]

On 6 June 2017, Han made his senior debut for North Korea, in a friendly against Qatar.[47] He played in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers,[48] helping North Korea qualify to the final tournament.[49] Han was called up for the final squad,[50] playing against Saudi Arabia – against whom he was sent off – and Lebanon in the group stage.[51][52] His first international goal came on 14 November 2019, in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Turkmenistan.[53]

Style of play

An ambidextrous player, Han's main characteristics are his dribbling, eye for goal and vision of the game.[54]

Personal life

Han is subject to the politics of the North Korean government; he cannot give interviews, and it is alleged that most of his salary is sent to the government.[55] Due to United Nations (UN) sanctions, which prohibit North Korean citizens from working abroad due to the country's nuclear programme, Han cannot play overseas.[56] Indeed, the UN cited his transfer from Juventus to Al-Duhail as a violation of their international sanctions.[56]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 August 2020[24]
Club Season League National cup[a] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Cagliari 2016–17 Serie A 5 1 0 0 5 1
2017–18 Serie A 7 0 0 0 7 0
Total 12 1 0 0 12 1
Perugia (loan) 2017–18 Serie B 17 7 2 0 19 7
2018–19 Serie B 19 4 0 0 1[b] 0 20 4
Total 36 11 2 0 1 0 39 11
Juventus U23 (loan) 2019–20 Serie C 17 0 3[c] 1 20 1
Juventus 2019–20 Serie A 0 0 0 0
Al-Duhail 2019–20 Qatar Stars League 10 3 2 2 2[d] 0 2[e] 0 16 5
Career total 75 15 4 2 2 0 6 1 87 18
  1. ^ Includes the Coppa Italia and the Emir of Qatar Cup
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in the Serie B promotion play-offs
  3. ^ Appearance(s) in the Coppa Italia Serie C
  4. ^ Appearances in the AFC Champions League
  5. ^ Appearance(s) in the Qatar Cup

International

As of match played 19 November 2019[57]
National team Year Apps Goals
North Korea 2017 2 0
2018 1 0
2019 7 1
Total 10 1
As of goal scored on 14 November 2019[57]
Scores and results list Han's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each North Korea goal.
List of international goals scored by Han Kwang-Song
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1 14 November 2019 Köpetdag Stadium, Ashgabat, Turkmenistan  Turkmenistan 1–3 1–3 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification [53]

Honours

Al-Duhail

North Korea U16

References

  1. ^ a b "Han Kwang-song". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e Bocsak, Bence (1 December 2020). "The inside story of North Korea's super-talent Han Kwang-Song". First Time Finish.
  3. ^ "축구류학의 장려, 선진국들에서 실력배양". KCNA Watch. Sogwang. 28 January 2018.
  4. ^ a b "Han Kwang-Song, from Marcet to Juventus". Marcet Football. Marcet Football University. 13 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Pajé, Dacia. "A Worldwide Controversy: North Korean Sports as a Tool for the Regime". hrnkinsider. Committee for Human Rights in North Korea.
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  45. ^ 배영경 (27 January 2021). ""'북한 호날두' 한광성, 대북제재로 북한 복귀 결정"". 연합뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2 February 2021.
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  48. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "Asian Cup (2019) | Qualification | Group Stage | Group B". www.national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  49. ^ "Get to know the qualified nations for Asian Cup 2019 | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  50. ^ "AC2019 Final Squads". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  51. ^ Monaghan, Matt. "2019 Asian Cup news: Juventus target Han Kwang-song has horror show in Saudi Arabia v North Korea report card - Sport360 News". sport360.com. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  52. ^ "Lebanon v North Korea". The AFC. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  53. ^ a b "Ex Grifo: il primo gol di Han con la maglia della Nazionale (VIDEO)". Calcio Grifo (in Italian). 16 November 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  54. ^ "Kwang Song Han firma per il Cagliari". www.cagliaricalcio.com (in Italian). 10 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  55. ^ Michał Wachowski (19 January 2021), "Ofiara koreańskiego reżimu. Piłkarz, na punkcie którego Kim Dzong Un ma obsesję", goal.pl (in Polish), onet.pl
  56. ^ a b "Juventus violate United Nations sanctions with Han Kwang-Song sale". Kick Off. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  57. ^ a b "Han Kwang-song". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  58. ^ "Korea Republic v DPR Korea". The AFC. 20 September 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2021.