As he settles into his first season of English football, Bae Junho has expressed gratitude to Stoke fans for their support and their song.
After moving to Staffordshire from South Korea in August, the 20-year-old playmaker has steadily established himself as a mainstay on the team sheet and a vital member of Steven Schumacher’s coaching staff.
And he’s received a lot of love from the crowd, with supporters loving his talent and demeanour. They’ve even rewritten the words to Abba’s Voulez Vous in his honour and haven’t stopped singing it in the past few months in particular.
In an interview for Stoke’s website, Junho stated, I think they have been unbelievably special and supportive despite their short time together. I am constantly appreciative that I have been able to form a close relationship with them because of this.
The cheers, particularly when we win, are unforgettably loud. It generates a level of energy that allows us to play with greater confidence.
It was the first time that I had ever been the subject of a song. I enjoy every second of it. It fills me with so much confidence and vigour.
They have been such a help to me and my team, and I am so grateful. I have a great belief that everyone on my squad will work hard to advance us to a better spot by the end of the season. We have such obligations that we must give them our all in exchange for their support.
Stoke was impressed by Junho’s efforts for South Korea at the under-20 World Cup, and he was able to recruit him despite opposition from players in Europe.
He is relishing the challenge of living in the Championship and has received the promised game time.
Considering that this is his first season playing football in Europe, he stated, “I think it has been successful.” I believe I have accomplished more than I had anticipated. That’s why things have gone really well thus far.
I was really anxious to score both my first goal away from home and my first goal overall. I was ecstatic to score my first goal at home; I’m not sure how to put it into words.
After discovering that it was physically demanding, I have been working really hard to get better and blend in. In addition, I believe that my ability to match the game’s tempo and technical level has increased.
When he’s not training himself, Junho enjoys taking trips to Manchester and London with his mother and is also settling into the Potteries. In addition to learning English, he has seen a few Premier League games.
He values Schumacher’s advice, and staff members and teammates have also been instrumental in making him feel at home—often with the aid of Google Translate.
He said, ‘I absolutely respect the gaffer. He constantly offers me tips on how to raise both my performance and our game.
“Everyone on my team has been so kind to me. If I had to pick only one, Wouter Burger has been a huge assistance to me in both the new setting and the game.
“Once more, everyone in the club has been jovial and accommodating. I want to thank Angela and Alison in particular for their wonderful assistance and kind hearts.
