Although it is a second division team in England, there is a player who is gradually becoming a core part of the Korean national team. Bae Jun-ho (21, Stoke City) received high praise as a promising player with potential that can be compared to Son.
Bae has earned the nickname “Son Heung-min’s replacement” as he completely supplemented Son’s absence in the Korean national soccer team. Following September when Son was absent from the national team due to a thigh injury, he displayed stellar performance through the October A-match. Notably, Bae Joon-ho, who played in the third Asian qualifying round for the FIFA 2026 World Cup North Korea-China, which was on an away trip to Kuwait, scored a decisive net goal to complete his team’s 4-1 victory.
Later, global sports media ESPN said, “Bae Jun-ho is a versatile player who can play in all positions of the offense like Son Heung-min,” adding, “He showed particularly outstanding performance on the left side and proved his potential to contribute to the team on a bigger stage in the future. Bae Jun-ho showed the possibility of reaching the same level as Son Heung-min through his performances in the national team and Stoke City.”
Bae Joon-ho has been quickly proving his presence since his A-match debut. Since making his debut as an adult A-team in the Asian qualifying round for the North-China World Cup in June, he has consistently been called up to the national team. Under Hong Myung-bo, Bae Jun-ho’s selection and performance continued, and he played a decisive role in changing the atmosphere that could have been an unexpected situation against Kuwait at once.
After the match against Kuwait, Bae Joon-ho said, “I thought the player who entered as a substitute should revitalize a lot,” adding, “I played with a focus on changing the team’s atmosphere rather than personal performance.”
In Stoke City, Bae was not just a promising player but also a key player. Having left Daejeon Hana Citizen to move to the English Championship (minor league) last summer, Bae was honored as the “Stoke City Player of the Year” from his debut season.
Stoke City said, “Bae Joon-ho established himself as the team’s key player in his debut season, earning him the nickname ‘King of Korea’ by his fans.” The club also praised Bae, explaining that he consistently showed outstanding performance throughout the season in the team’s leadership role.
Bae Jun-ho is growing into a stronger player through his experience on the English stage, and his outstanding performance from his debut season to this season is also influenced by other big clubs in Europe. ESPN said, “Bae Jun-ho of Stoke City has only played 25 games, but he has proven his potential to walk a similar path to Son Heung-min.”
ESPN compared Bae Jun-ho directly to Son Heung-min, predicting that he is highly likely to grow into the next generation star of Korean soccer. “Bae Jun-ho has versatility to play in all positions of the offense, and like Son Heung-min, he stands out especially on the left side,” he predicted, noting his rapid growth, saying, “Bae Jun-ho scored two goals in five A matches in the A-match, matching his senior players.” In particular, the fact that he can play in the same position as Son Heung-min and play a similar role makes Bae Jun-ho all the more special. 토토사이트
Bae feels a sense of responsibility following a high evaluation of his potential. “I thought I should play a role to change the mood as the youngest member of the team,” Bae said, displaying understanding of his role and dedication to the team.
The question of whether Bae will be able to reach the same level as Son Heung-min remains, but his current performance and growth potential are considered very positive. He stands out in both Stoke City and the Korean national team at the same time, and has established himself as a player with more expectations for his future career.
