The ‘K League International Youth Cup Incheon 2024, which marks its second anniversary, was a venue for exchange and learning.
Marking its second anniversary this year, the championship is a platform for international exchange of K-League youth. It aims to provide valuable opportunities for K-League youth players and enhance their international competitiveness through such opportunities. The Korea Professional Football Association expects that K-League youth clubs will be able to increase their contact points with overseas leagues by expanding and continuing to operate the championship in the future.
This year, six teams from FC Seoul, Suwon Samsung, Jeonbuk Hyundai, Busan I’Park, Incheon United, and Bupyeong High School participated in the event. Four European teams (Real Sociedad, Espanyol, Augsburg and Everton) and two Asian teams (Kashiwa Reysol and Shandong Taishan) also participated in the event.
In the final match held at the main stadium of Incheon Munhak Stadium on the 4th, Spain’s Espanyol beat Busan 3-0 to lift the trophy. Espanyol, who reached the final with 4 wins and 1 loss in five group matches, enjoyed the joy of reaching the top of the tournament for the first time.
As the purpose of the championship is exchange, it was not only a time for results but also a time for learning from each other. “Footballistically, the facilities, rest areas and environment are well equipped outside of the stadium. Some stadiums have better environment than Spain. It is a great experience. There are things you can experience only at this championship. The team has become one more. If possible, I hope to participate next year and experience it again,” Buso coach Espanyol Marc Salabader said, expressing his intention to participate in the event next year as well. 안전놀이터
Busan manager Choi Kwang-hee also nodded that although he was frustrated in the final, he gained a lot. “It is definitely different. I heard that the players felt that the intensity and tempo of the pressure were different. I think it was a really good experience,” Choi said. “The players were disappointed and disappointed, but I asked them to set a direction to move forward based on what they experienced and learned.”
Choi himself felt a lot. “I learned a lot, too. Not to mention the style of play of each team, I learned how the leadership conducts games on the bench or communicates with the players. As Spain passionately prepared, Japan systematically prepared, Germany has a more systematic and powerful feeling,” Choi said.
Espanyol defender Hoel Pleguesuelos Estor, who was selected as the MVP of the tournament, also said, “I played against the Korean team for the first time and I was surprised by the quality. The pressure was very high and it was fresh,” adding, “I didn’t spend much time outside focusing on the competition, but the scenery, including the colorful buildings, came as a new experience.”
