Lee Ho Jae (Pohang Steelers | South Korea)

This reminds me of the Liam Jordan thread

this is my favourite thread

the idea that a south korean kid who lives in south korea and who isn't eligible prima facie would play for nz was enough for me

definitely not born in NZ. Played Onehunga Sports/ Wynrs 12, 13, 14 grade and was in Nike Cup squad 2015

(he's second from left back row)   

But like, for reals, they'll all play for NZ.

I think some people are forgetting the appeal of playing international football for a smaller (but not so small) country - which is a huge draw card for players.

I agree that he may not currently qualify 100%, but given how long he lived here etc. there may be grounds for a waiver - which might be turned down, or it might be accepted.

Yes, his dad played for the NT, and he is playing for a massive club by Asian standards - but how do we know he's actually good enough? His dad is the coach at the end of the day. Not saying it's a case of nepotism, but let's face it, it's certainly good for the boy to be involved with the first team to gain experience and exposure.

But he may already know what his chances of making the Korean NT are likely to be - and should he come to the dark side, he will certainly have a lot of opportunities to play internationally for New Zealand, which isn't to be sniffed at.

Just applying some context. It's a long shot, but I for one am feeling hopeful.

He doesn't sound like the type of player that the FIFA rule is intended for.

I don't actually mind, as long as we don't get kicked out of a major tournament again, I will be happy. Had this attitude since we started having players playing for New Zealand with the name of Tzimopolous, Van den Broek, Yamamoto (Youth) and Shin (Youth).

Should all be Carruthers, Pearce and Linneker?(Wait that last one sounds a bit Germanic)

Come on- we are a relatively young island nation in a Pacific melting pot with a tonne of people moving around and having different links to our country. 

Smeltz for example. Moss for another. 

Rojas? Singh? Te Atawhai-Wihongi Hudson?

Names aren't a great indicator of national pride or identity in our case I'd say. 

Maori names are uniquely NZ- though they share a Polynesian heritage and Mana for example, might be Hawaiian or Tahitian as much as Kiwi.

But I get what you are saying- we'll take anyone decent who's got a pair of boots. Fair enough. 

But your nationality and how you identify is a tricky thing. What does it mean to be Kiwi? Have to trace yourself back to the ANZACs? The NZ company? The first canoes? Maybe having trudged to school (Past Mcdonalds, KFC etc) a few times, done some NCEA, kicked a ball around at lunchtime and had a NZ lager or drunk Mad Jacks or some such one weekend is about as good as any of us...

I'll try contact him in the next few days to see where his allegiances lie

Exactly - at the end of the day FAs have the right to apply for dispensations. As long as they do their due diligence before fielding a possibly ineligible player, the worst case scenario is FIFA saying no you can't play him.

Lee Ho Jae may well have been at the stadium watching NZ vs. USA in the u-20 World Cup.

It was played at his club's ground in Incheon.

Wonder if it whet his appetite to play for NZ or if he thought "they are so bad, I would be embarrassed to play for them"?

https://www.transfermarkt.com/ho-jae-lee/profil/sp...

Now has a Transfermarkt page. Judging by his Instagram he's absolutely scoring for fun for the U18s so I wouldn't be surprised if he's in and around the first team by next season.

Spoke to a Korean football expert about him. Here's what he had to say:

Unlucky for us, but it seems he's on his way to stardom. Oh well if he flops we'll be here to catch him I guess

Play for NZ and don't go to Military training... I know what one I'd rather do, especially if he sees his football career moving beyond Korea.

Got a scholarship at Korea University - their football team competes in the U-League, South Korea's national university league, and out of 83 teams Korea University's won the title the past two years

University football is massive in South Korea, and it's how the vast majority of players gain pro first-team contracts, whether national or overseas. Has been playing excellently in the U18 league by the sounds of it so seems like the move is deserved

Wonder if he was close with Appiah during his time with Incheon?

yeah so he's been called up to the South Korea U-22 national team in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics - probably time to rein this one in.

Awesome to see someone who was playing for Onehunga like 5 years ago do this well. Add it to the list of Kiwi products doing well for themselves overseas.

Given the mess that’s the Olympics right now, he might change his plans ala Fallon.

Signed a professional contract with Pohang Steelers in the K-League