Ri Yong-jik interview - "I want to play in every position for FC Anyang"

FC Anyang made headlines when they signed the talented North Korean international Ri Yong-jik in March. The defensive midfielder has played a crucial role in guiding Anyang to the summit of K League 2 and within touching distance of the promised land. On Thursday night, he sat down with K League United to discuss how he ended up in Anyang, his favorite players, and what the future holds for the 'vacuum cleaner'.

You Go, We Go

Ri Yong-jik was born in February 1991 in Osaka, Japan, to a Korean family. From an early age, he knew he was North Korean, whom he represented 23 times, including at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. His playing career has taken him from J1 League to J3, and now to Korea with FC Anyang in K League 2. In 22 appearances this season, Ri has scored twice and laid on one assist. His primary position was central defender but since moving to Korea, Ri has mostly slotted into midfield.

Ri initially declined my interview request but changed his mind once the questions had been sent over in advance. The Media Officer scrubbed the questions related to North Korea, and I obliged. Long-time viewers of K League United will understand why complying was important. We're not interested in gossip, scandal, or causing friction. 

Despite this, the midfielder looked uncomfortable entering the room. I positioned myself for a handshake but Ri kept his head down and approached an empty chair. Perhaps sensing the awkward tension in the air, the club's translator informed me that "Ri is nervous about the interview." Apparently, he even studied the questions in advance. But finally, I had him seated and we were ready to go.

He moved to Anyang in March 2024. My first time watching him live was during his team's 3-1 loss to Suwon Bluewings the following month. Ri was outstanding that day but Anyang were well beaten. One thing that really stood out was his constant pointing and gesticulating. It was almost like the manager himself was protecting the defense. 

"I am not a technical player. I try to follow the coach's instructions, opinions, and tactics on the field so when the head coach says do something, I just try to follow his word. That's why I point at the players, the ball, and the opposition. I hope the players can see the space and the dangerous situations before they happen. But I don't have a special position." 

This is why Ri fills a very important position for FC Anyang. Goals and assists are an added bonus, but he's there to offer protection first and foremost. It explains why the leaders have the joint-tightest defense this season. "Every position for me is okay. My job is to try and find the weak point in our team. I help out in the defensive if we are going to concede the goal but when we are attacking, I can help out in the attacking part. I want to play in every position for FC Anyang." 

Do these qualities make him the perfect post-career manager?

"I think when I retire from football, I don't want to be involved in the game. I will look for a career away from football." A very surprising revelation. Based on what I've seen thus far, Ri would be a valuable asset to the backroom staff of any club once he hangs up those boots.

I didn't have another choice

Interestingly, Ri admitted that as the winter faded into spring, his suitors likewise disappeared into the warm air. Anyang was one of several clubs interested in November. "Anyang suggested that I come but other teams were also interested. I heard about my many proposals but eventually, the other teams canceled their contracts, so, really, I didn't have another choice."

However, he has no regrets about the move and despite the uncomfortable nature of the interview's opening stanza, Ri is actually known in the club as an amusing character. He admitted that this helped him settle quickly "because everyone makes me happy in Anyang so I want to make them smile." But he is currently in possession of a really unique nickname, unrelated to his perceived comedy.

"When every player calls for the vacuum cleaner, they always think I am there to help. But I think the real vacuum cleaner is Kim Jeong-hyeon." Ri laughs at this moment because maybe it is another example of the settling-in process bringing happy memories. As everyone, from professional footballers to KBO infielders, to English teachers and US soldiers will tell you, moving in and settling in Korea is a difficult process.

Out of Africa

Ri is a box-to-box midfielder, with incredible levels of energy. When pressed about the players he admired growing up, he chose two from the Premier League and two from K League 1.

"I admired Manchester City's Yaya Toure and Liverpool's Steven Gerrard. In K league 1, I enjoy watching the Brazilian Oberdan at Pohang Steelers and Paul-Jose M'Poku at Incheon United."

But the type of midfielder he favors the most is African. I sat through a two-minute answer to why Ri believes African or French (without naming names) players make the best midfielders. I might not have gotten all of my questions in, but the conversation was worth it for this short exchange.

Ri explained. "I really like French technician midfielders, and African ones, too. They are dynamic players. I want to play like African players. They have so much dynamism in their play. I want to play like them."

Ri Jong-sik and goalkeeper Kim Da-sol embrace.

"We don't have a rival. The rival is our team"

As stipulated from the off, questions about the national team were not allowed but intriguingly, Ri's favorite stadium in Korea is not one he's played in his season. In fact, the stadium is basically off the circuit now as far as professional football is concerned in the country. Another glorious white elephant, built during that magical summer in 2002, when Korea shocked the world to advance to the World Cup semi-finals.

"Incheon Munhak Stadium," he selects. "I have special memories there from 2014 playing for the national team." Strangely, the translator basically whispered those final two words. North Korea made the final of the 2014 Asian Games, losing in the 120th minute to South Korea in the gold medal match. That autumn, Ri's Noth Korea played at Incheon Uinted's home in Sungui Arena (twice), Hwaseong Stadium (twice), Ansan Greeners' Wa~ Stadium, and, finally, Munhak Stadium.

Had this interview gone in another direction, an hour's worth of questions could have come from that one admission, but the translator was pleased to hear it was the only mention of North Korea in the entire interview.

Ri laughs again when discussing Anyang's unusual stadium, In theory, the ground holds 17,000 spectators but most of the original stadium is not open to match-day-going supporters. The away fans are housed in the north corner, with a terrible view. But the majority of Anyang fans will be in one of the three temporary pitchside stands. "We have no stadium like this in Japan," Ri smiles.

"There is no style like this but I can watch the supporters very closely. If we can move to K League 1, maybe Anyang will make the better stadium for the club in the future." Anyang's fan culture is renowned throughout the league, but Ri reveals it is hard to block out the noise during a game. "When we're losing the game, we can always hear the fans shouting in support, so I want to thank them. Even when I am taking a corner or kicking at the goal, I think about them. When we lose the game, they don't swear at the players."

Ri is a football fan and a player but when I asked if he'd like to stand with Anyang Ultras one day, he thought deeply about the question. For much of this interview, the midfielder looked down at the notes on the table without making eye contact but it was obvious he was contemplating every question. Like this question, he would rub his chin, and drift off into another world collecting his thoughts.

His answer brought laughter and released the tension that had previously swarmed the room. Sometimes you have to go off script to help out a nervous interviewee. 

"I'd like to watch the game from the middle of the ultra section but..."

"Can you sing well?"

"No way! I can't sing well so I think I should watch football from a calm section."

From Japan, with Love

"I was around nine years old in elementary school when I began to take an interest in football," Ri adds for clarity. "But it wasn't until I went to university that I decided to become a professional football player. I was maybe 23 years old. At that time, I tried to find a full time but I made the decision to try for football." Although that seems like a late age to commit to football, it was because he was thinking of following in his father's footsteps.

"I would have been an electrical technician like my father."

"What about a football journalist or reporter?"

His eyes bulge. "Reporter? No way! I could never do that!"

Ri was 11 years old when the World Cup came to Japan. I remember that World Cup more than any other. I was sitting my final high school exams when Ireland played Germany in Ibaraki. Someone entered the exam hall and whispered a message to the moderator. "The game ended 1-1," she said as we did our English exam. The exam hall burst in roars and cheers. Across the country, fans were in pubs from early morning watching one of the greatest moments in Irish sporting history.

Meanwhile, I was writing about the role of women in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Still, we felt part of that great adventure in the Far East. By the time Ireland played Spain in the Round of 16, my exams were done. It was early on Saturday morning and late evening in Suwon. Ireland drew 1-1 but went out on penalties. I think, subconsciously, it is why I adore Big Bird so much. This is the only stadium in Korea Ireland have ever played in and even though the final result was disappointing, the performance was anything but. Strangely, we've never been back. 

Ri, however, doesn't have any memories of the tournament even though he had started to take a serious interest in football. "I was still a young child at the time so I don't have any memories of the 2002 World Cup. I remember the Japan versus Belgium game (group stage) because Ono Shinji was a player. Later on, early in my career, I got to play with Ono Shinji, a star in 2002. We were together at FC Ryukyu before he retired so that was my memory of 2002."

Back to the Future

Our time together was coming to an end. Ri, Sang Rae, Sena, and I were all tired. It was time to say goodbye and head home as nightfall had long descended on Anyang. I looked out the window. The stands were ready to host Cheonan City on Saturday and local residents made use of their facility by running, jogging, or kicking a soccer ball. But there was one more question that had to be asked first.

"What does the future look like for you? Will you be an Anyang player in 2025?"

"I don't want to think too deeply about a new contract. When you start focusing on those issues, you might not play well. I'd like to stay with Anyang but I want to achieve the goal of playing in K League 1 first. Only then will I sit down and discuss my future with the club."

And just then it was all over. Locked away are his thoughts on potentially representing North Korea again, playing at the May Day Stadium, experiencing South Korea in 2014, and what the red DPRK jersey means to him. I might never get the answers to these questions. The vacuum cleaner tidied up any possibility of knowing the answers but I was still thrilled to get the opportunity to meet the player and the man.

History beckons for Anyang. You can be sure Ri Yong-jik will play a massive part.