Premier League champions Manchester City clash with Korean superstars for the first time in half a century.
About half a century ago, after clashing with former manager Cha Bum-geun, now he meets 21st century Korean stars such as Lee Seung-woo and Ki Sung-yong on the ground.
Man City announced on the club website on the 20th (Korean time) that the first team men’s team will conduct a pre-season tour ahead of the 2023/24 season in Korea this summer.
The club said, “Man City and Atletico Madrid will host the Coupang Play Series hosted by the Korean streaming service Coupang Play at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on July 30, 2023.”
According to the Korea Professional Football Federation, Man City is strongly considering a plan to play a friendly match against the K-League All-Stars.
The match between Man City and Atletico Madrid is expected to attract interest as it is the first return match since last season’s UEFA (European Football Federation) Champions League quarterfinals.
There is a fact that has been highlighted by Man City’s visit to Korea this time.
The point is that Manchester City went on a pre-season tour of Korea in 1976 and played three matches against the Korean national team at a time when legends such as Dennis Tuart, Alan Oaks, Glyn Pardo and Willy Donach were lined up. The club also announced that it would be visiting Korea for the first time in 47 years while announcing the match against Atletico Madrid.
Manchester City legend Tuart detailed his 1976 Far East tour in his autobiography, MY FOOTBALL JOURNEY.
Manchester City finished the season by winning the League Cup in the 1975/76 season. Afterwards, they visited Korea and Japan on their Far East Asia tour.
First, Manchester City met the Japanese national team four times, winning the first game 3-0, the two consecutive games 1-0, and the last game 2-0.
In 1976, the Korean national team was divided into Hwarang (Team A) and Chungmu (Team B), and Cha Bum-geun, who was very active at the age of 23, as well as Huh Jeong-moo, Park Seong-hwa, and Kim Ho-gon, played an active part in the Hwarang team.
Man City, who had their first clash with the 2nd team Chungmu at Dongdaemun Stadium in Seoul, lost 2-4. Tuart played as a forward striker in the match and scored one goal.
At the time, Tuart said in his autobiography, “The game in broad daylight was very rough. A Korean player tackled my knee and the wound remains. After I fell, I looked at my knee and saw three holes and blood was pouring. I was angry and the opponent I kicked the head off,” he said.
Afterwards, Man City faced Hwarang Team, the first team in Busan and Daegu, in both matches, winning 3-0 and returning to England.
This year, half a century later, Manchester City are back in their prime. It is challenging for European champions. They are currently in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they face Real Madrid.
If in 1976, he competed on the ground with Cha Bum-geun, a young man who would later play a big role in the Bundesliga, this time, Lee Seung-woo (Suwon FC), Baek Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors), Ki Sung-yueng (FC Seoul), etc. expected to do
Man City’s visit to Korea is also meaningful for the best team in the Premier League to come. It is also meaningful that a team like the ‘Father of the Korean Tour’ is revisiting after a long time. 토스카지노