By now, many people will have read the Sport Bild report on how Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller could be interested in a possible move to Major League Soccer. Apparently the USA really is the land of opportunity for everyone. If he does so, Müller would follow in the footsteps of his namesake Gerd, not to mention the legendary Franz Beckenbauer and his friend Bastian Schweinsteiger.
But why go to America when there’s a whole other wonderful land on the other side of the world? This writer is obviously talking about his home country of South Korea. While the market may not be as big as that of the MLS, there are still many enticing things about the K League that should turn Müller’s head. Here are a few examples.
1. Football is the most popular sport in South Korea
Unlike the USA, where football takes a back seat to baseball, basketball, hockey, and American football, South Korea’s number one sport is football. The national team’s games are almost always sold out, and although the K League used to be more in the shadows, it’s becoming more and more popular by the day, with attendance records being broken every season. The fans who frequent the stadiums range from ardent enthusiasts screaming and singing from 90 minutes straight to people who just want a nice day out and a good game of football. A diverse crowd, but one all united by the beautiful game. What’s not to love?
2. Müller himself is immensely popular
Müller is one of Bayern’s most popular players in the current squad, if not the most popular. That became even more apparent during Bayern’s Seoul tour last summer, when Müller sold more jerseys than any of his teammates. Korean fans are crazy for Müller, and they will undoubtedly show their love and support by buying his shirts and going to his games every week, this writer included. FC Seoul got a massive boost in fans after they signed Jesse Lingard last winter, so one can only imagine how big of a crowd Müller will draw.
3. Korea is an incredibly convenient country to live in
This is probably the biggest draw for foreigners, especially when compared to the USA. When it comes to convenience, no one does it like the Koreans. The big cities where most of the K League clubs are located are extremely urbanized, and one can find everything he or she needs by just looking around or taking a ten minute walk, give or take. Said cities are all linked together with Korea’s fantastic high speed rail service, the KTX (Korea Train Express) and SRT (Super Rapid Train; yes, it sounds corny), so there’s no trouble getting around as well. And of course, the food is top notch. Koreans also happen to be quite friendly towards foreigners, and a lot of them speak English.
These are just a few reasons why Müller should look to the Land of the Morning Calm for any retirement plans should he decide to continue his career in other continents. But what kind of teams would he even go to? Let’s take a look at a couple of options.
FC Seoul
The obvious choice. With the biggest stadium in the country, an excellent coach in Kim Gi-dong, and a prime location smack in the middle of the capital, FC Seoul would be the most logical destination for many foreigners.
Pohang Steelers
A team with a rich, trophy-laden history, the Steelers are sponsored by Pohang Steelworks, one of the biggest steel refineries in South Korea. Their stadium, the Steelyard, is rather small, with only around 12000 seats, but the atmosphere on matchday is second to none in the K League.
Ulsan Hyundai
Just a few miles south from Pohang lies the metropolitan city of Ulsan, home of the K League champions. Coming off a historic league three-peat, Ulsan are easily the best team in the K League currently, and are sponsored by Hyundai Heavy Industries. Yes, it’s the same Hyundai that makes cars.
Of course, the initial report being from Sport Bild, it shouldn’t be taken too seriously to begin with. If anything, there is still a big chance that Müller will finish his career where he started it – at Bayern Munich. But on the off chance that he does look to another continent, with a handful of reasons to come to the far East and a handful of great clubs to choose from, why should Müller even glance in the direction of the MLS? Müller himself had a chance to experience the greatness of Korean football way back in 2018, remember that day? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.
Looking for reasons to feel good about a potential contract extension between Bayern Munich and Jamal Musiala…but maybe a less confident take on Leroy Sané’s status? What about a realistic look at the possible retirements of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller? Great, then we have you covered with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show, which is available on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
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