Jang Hyuk-jin interview - 'I would like to be a manager one day"

 

As he approaches his 35th birthday, K League 2 stalwart Jang Hyuk-jin admits he doesn't have a contract for 2025. The former Gangwon FC midfielder would like to play on, but one day hopes to be sitting in the dugout wearing a suit.

Jang Hyuk-jin strolls out in the baking sun. He has the look of a man who doesn't quite know what's going on. Immediately he's flanked by the club's translator and then the Press Officer. They gesture towards the tunnel, where I'm standing, sweating profusely. I don't know what they whispered to them or if he knew a foreign reporter was waiting for him. However, I suspect he was about to experience something for the first time in his long, distinguished career.

Jang has spent almost the entirety of his career in K League 2. Saturday's 45 minutes against Suwon Samsung represented the 296th time he has laced up in the second tier, versus 48 in K League 1. His time in the second division includes over 100 appearances for Ansan Greeners, 73 for Gangwon FC, and 50+ for both Gyeongnam and Cheongju.

As he edges closer to a significant milestone, Jang admitted he wasn't concerned about its relevance until recently. "I never set a personal goal but because I played really well, suddenly the 300th game is coming up. I am now hoping to reach that number." All things going well, the home game versus Seongnam on September 29th could be a special one for the Jang household.

The 34-year-old is a fine player, a classic central midfielder. He can, as they say, pick out a pass. He's creative, combative, and has a good sense of what's around him. I've personally seen him boss midfielders almost half his age. But age is catching up with him and this season he has become more accustomed to featuring from the bench. The consummate professional is not aggrieved by the lack of starts. He sees it another way.

"I am a very experienced player," Jang offers confidentially. "My condition and form do not matter now. If the head coach (Choi Yoon-yeom) chooses me to play, I have to do my best and show my quality."

It remains unclear if his experience, professionalism, and quality will be needed in Cheongju next season. "My contract will expire this winter but I don't know what will happen after that." The former Suwon FC player was coy about his immediate plans, but I got the sense he would like to keep playing before opening the next chapter in his wonderful career.

Would he like to try his hand at coaching?

"Of course," Jang assertively replies. "But now I am still a player so I must listen to everything my head coach says. However, I have a plan to become a manager and stay in the game, yes."

Jang confirmed he hasn't started his coaching badges yet because he's solely focused on playing but "I give a lot of advice to the younger players. One player I helped out a lot, Hong Won-jin, is now playing for Suwon Samsung."

The playmaker joined Chungbuk Cheongju before the start of the 2023 season. It wasn't the first time he had turned up at a brand-new club. In 2017, he joined Ansan Greeners from Gangwon FC. There was previously a club based at Wa~ Stadium but the Greeners were a brand new organisation. For most players, signing a deal at a start-up club might appear to be a risky career move. So why did he choose Cheongju? "The head coach. I had good memories of working with him at Gangwon FC."

We were approaching the final hour before Cheoingju hosted Suwon. The game ended 2-2 but I felt obligated to ask Jang if he is supporting his former club, Gangwon FC, in their highly unlikely pursuit of the K League 1 title.

"Gangwon FC have a really good squad this season, and I watch all of their games. The players are so good and that is so different if you compare my time with Gangwon. But it is very exciting."