A goal, an assist and a commanding all-round display saw Korea Republic’s Hwang Inbeom named after inspiring the Asian nation to a 2-1 comeback triumph over Czechia in their curtain-raiser. “I watched the highlights of the game this morning. When I saw his goal, I boasted to my two kids, ‘Your dad used to play with that guy,’” beamed Alvaro Silva. The retired Spanish centre-back signed for K League 1 outfit Daejeon Citizen in July 2015, shortly after a fresh-faced Hwang had made his first-team debut for his hometown club. “Even at 18, he stood out from the crowd. That kid was in a league of his own. Before the ball reached him, he knew exactly what he was going to do with it. He was a phenomenal player,” he gushed.
“He always wanted to get on the ball and he’d never lose it. He had unmatched vision to deliver through-balls to strikers or wingers, picking out seemingly impossible passes, as well as a fierce shot on him and a keen eye for goal. Although he was an attacking player, he often dropped deep to receive the ball. He was a blend of [Luka] Modric and [Michael] Laudrup because he also posed a threat going forward,” added Silva.
The pass master’s talent and potential impressed the Spanish stopper so much that he recommended him to former team-mate Francesc Arnau, who was the sporting director at Malaga – the club where Silva cut his teeth in the professional game – at the time: “I told him Hwang’s star was on the rise and that they could bag themselves a real bargain. I think the two clubs were in talks, but in the end it didn’t come to anything.”
His recollection is of a “very quiet and reserved” boy who “lived and breathed football”. Silva would occasionally share some words of wisdom with the youngster and they have kept in touch through social media.
The pair went head-to-head in January 2019 when Silva lined up for the Philippines, the country of his paternal grandmother’s birth, against Korea Republic in the AFC Asian Cup, with the Taegeuk Warriors edging a 1-0 win. Their friendship resumed with the swapping of shirts following the final whistle. Later that month, Hwang checked in at Canadian club Vancouver Whitecaps for a taste of Major League Soccer. It was there that the precocious talent teamed up with erstwhile midfielder Jon Erice, who turned out for boyhood club Osasuna in the top flight in his native Spain, as well as in the UEFA Cup, before racking up over 200 appearances for a number of clubs in the second tier of Spanish football.
The Pamplona-born playmaker was also quick to sing Hwang’s praises: “He was a technically gifted and well-rounded midfielder. He was two-footed and had tremendous lower-body strength. His silky skills didn’t stop him from getting stuck into a tackle. Strong and good in the air for someone of his modest height, he was a really complete midfielder who was steadily making a name for himself,” recalled Erice, who took his place alongside Hwang 21 times for the Caps in 2019.
“We formed a consistent midfield partnership and got on like a house on fire because he has a great understanding of the game. Playing alongside him was a piece of cake. His understanding and positional awareness were outstanding. He had a great grasp of the tactical side of things and complemented that with his technical ability because he’s so talented,” he explained.
Erice had obvious admiration for the man he affectionately refers to as Juanito, a Spanish take on “Hwang”. “You couldn’t help but like him. He was grounded and down to earth, as well as being approachable. He’s such a hard worker, fiercely competitive and a model professional. He showed tremendous character on the pitch and was always one step ahead. He had ambitions of playing in Europe.”
That dream came true in 2020 when he secured a switch to Russian heavyweights Rubin Kazan, where he shone alongside future Paris Saint-Germain star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost 30 times. He then returned home to play for FC Seoul on loan before plying his trade for clubs in Greece and Serbia, ahead of a move to his current employers, Eredivisie powerhouses Feyenoord, in 2024.
Just a few months shy of his 30th birthday, the unassuming ace has established himself as one of ’s leading lights who is now carrying the hopes of his nation on North American soil.
“When I woke up and saw that he’d been named man of the match, I was over the moon. It came as no surprise, though, because he’s just that good,” concluded Erice.
Sources: FIFA Official
