Hwang Hee-chan #11

Profile

Like Son Heung-min, Hwang began his professional career in Europe, which is unusual for South Korean players. He moved from Red Bull Salzburg to RB Leipzig in 2020, then to Wolves in 2022 after a successful loan spell. His nickname, The Bull, is a nod to both his first club and his aggressive playing style. He rose to international prominence during his time at Salzburg, famously scoring against Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. He maintains a close friendship with his former teammate, Erling Haaland. In a 2020 South Korea friendly against Qatar he scored just 16 seconds after kickoff, setting the record for the fastest goal in South Korean international history. In 2023, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was criticised for referring to him as “the Korean guy” rather than by name before a match against Wolves; Hwang responded by scoring the winner the following day. He said later: “I heard ‘the Korean guy’, and some people had negative views. But I always think positively. I used it to motivate myself a lot.”

Key stats