Hosam Aiesh speaks out following departure of An Ik-soo from FC Seoul

Winger Hosam Aiesh hasn't played a single minute of first-team football at FC Seoul since arriving in the winter, despite being fit and ready to play. Speaking to Swedish media outlet Fotbollskanalen, Aiesh says that this is because of a fallout with manager An Ik-soo who he described as being like a "dictator."
(Photo credit: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The Sweden-born Syria international winger hasn't played a single minute of first-team football since he made the move from IFK Goteborg to FC Seoul, in fact he hasn't even been named on the bench.

This is because, Aiesh says speaking to Swedish media outlet Fotbollskanalen, he had problems with the recently departed FC Seoul manager An Ik-soo. But he wasn't the only one.

"Many players had problems with him, not just me. It was difficult to communicate with him as he is a dictator person."

Aiesh says that the issues stem from a misunderstanding about when he was due to arrive in South Korea. Fans may recall that the announcement took a long time and this was believed to be because of a hold-up in the player getting his Syrian passport, something which would enable him to be registered as an Asian player in K League. 

"My South Korean agent announced something that I had no idea about and in South Korea you have pride. The coach is a bit older and thought I didn't want to come. There was trouble there and I went into things on the wrong foot. So when I got there he was made at me and has been until now. He has refused to let go of his pride and play me so I have been out the while time."

Aiesh also talked about An Ik-soo's management style:

"You must not gesture or question anything about the process as you are being taught. He shouted a lot and you were nervous when he got close during a passing exercise in case you passed wrong. I was very shocked and the first training was hell. Then I thought I need to stop caring when he screams and then it got better. It was tough in the beginning with yelling all the time, there was a lot of that."

"I knew he didn't want to (play me) as he had something personal against me so that made it easier...They believe in me (the club) and don't want to let me go. There has been talk of leaving or breaking this summer but they didn't want to and he (An Ik-soo) had an expiring contract. They want to use me but unfortunately, the coach didn't. It is the opposite in South Korea compared to Europe. The coach is the "big boss" and directs and sets things up. The president cannot say who will play, the coach is everything."

An Ik-soo's departure bolds well then as it should mean Aiesh will finally be able to make his K League debut:

"I had good talks with our assistant (Kim Jin-kyu) and I am part of his plans and will be allowed to play. He has seen what I have done so the idea is that I will be allowed to play from now on, that's what he said, so it's good."

Source: Fotbollskanalen