Lee Ho-jae (footballer)
Lee Ho-jae (Korean: 이호재; born 14 October 2000) is a South Korean professional footballer, who plays as a center-forward for Pohang Steelers.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 14 October 2000 | ||
| Place of birth | South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Pohang Steelers | ||
| Number | 20 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2015 | Onehunga Sports | ||
| 2016–2018 | Incheon United | ||
| 2018–2020 | Korea University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2021– | Pohang Steelers | 37 | (6) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 April 2023 | |||
| Lee Ho-jae | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Revised Romanization | I Ho-jae |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Ho-chae |
Club career
After completing his youth development between New Zealand, with NRFL Premier club Onehunga Sports, and South Korea, where he played for Incheon United while his father Lee Ki-hyung was coaching the first team, Lee entered Korea University and eventually graduated in 2020.
At the start of 2021, Lee officially started his professional football career by joining K League 1 side Pohang Steelers. He subsequently made his professional debut on 28 February 2021, when he came in as a substitute for the injured Alex Grant in the 83rd minute of the 2-1 win against Incheon United.
On 28 June of the same year, he also made his debut in the AFC Champions League, as he replaced Go Young-Joon in the 88th minute of the group stage match against Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'Zim, which ended up in a 4–1 win for Pohang.
On 3 October 2021, after coming in as a substitute for Lee Seung-Mo in the 76th minute of a league match against Gwangju FC, he scored his first and second professional goals (respectively, in the 83rd and 90th minutes), which proved to be crucial as his team ultimately gained a 3–2 come-back victory.[2]
International career
Lee joined the South Korean under-23 national team for the first time in September 2021, when he was invited by manager Hwang Sun-hong to take part in a training camp in Paju.[2]
Personal life
He is the son of former professional footballer and manager Lee Ki-hyung, who represented South Korea at full international level. He moved to New Zealand in 2007 when his father signed for Auckland City.[2]
Career statistics
- As of 20 February 2022
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 2021 | Pohang Steelers | K League 1 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
References
- "K League".
- Jung, Mu-yeol (4 October 2021). "Lee Ho-jae, son of former South Korean international and Incheon manager Lee Kihyung, made a great impression with a brace including his first pro goal after gaining his confidence in Korea U23 National Team training. He is def the one to watch for future". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-10-16.