Ex-Celtic star reveals retirement U-turn after fans sent FUNERAL WREATHS to club amid his bitter feud with manager
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A FORMER Celtic star has found himself at the centre of an almighty storm in his homeland.
And it's led to fans of a club sending FUNERAL WREATHS to the training ground as part of a major protest.
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Ki Sung-yueng is at the centre of a major storm in South Korea
Credit: REUTERS
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The midfielder spent two-and-a-half years with Celtic
Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow
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Fans have been left furious with the situation
Credit: X
Ki Sung-yueng enjoyed a successful two-and-a-half years at Celtic between 2010 and 2012.
He won the SPL and a Scottish Cup with the Hoops before moving on to Swansea City in 2012.
Celtic signed the former South Korea international from FC Seoul, where he'd impressed during three years in the first team.
After spending more than a decade in Europe, Ki made an emotional return to his first club in 2020.
The midfielder, now aged 36, has gone on to become a club legend at FC Seoul.
But his second spell at the club, which has lasted more than five years, has now come to a very unceremonious end.
Shock reports emerged in Korea earlier this week that manager Kim Gi-dong had deemed the influential midfielder surplus to requirements.
Ki had missed a chunk of last season through injury, but even when fit and available again, hadn't been used by Kim.
Amid swirling rumours, FC Seoul initially DENIED that Ki, who also played for Newcastle and Sunderland, was going to be leaving the club.
But fans were absolutely livid at the prospect of Ki - a huge fans' favourite - leaving the club.
The diggers move in as Celtic Park pitch is dug up
And they made their feelings clear.
Pictures from Korean outlets Nate Sports and Yonhap News TV show the dramatic lengths the FC Seoul supporters went to get their point across.
A truck with a large TV monitor on its back was driven to the headquarters of GS Group, the company that owns the club.
The monitor displayed several messages blasting the club and its manager.
One of the messages simply read: "Kim Gi-dong get out!"
There was an even MORE dramatic protest at the club's training facility.
Images show several FUNERAL WREATHS were outside the training centre, with rows of them sent by raging fans.
Last night, the supporters' worst fears were realised when FC Seoul confirmed that Ki had left.
The club, however, insisted that it would be a 'temporary separation' and he will have a retirement ceremony at the club once he decides to call it quits.
FC Seoul also referred to Ki as an 'eternal legend.'
They said that they had allowed Ki to leave because he had "confirmed that he had no opportunity in the Seoul team management plan for this season" and had "requested to go to a team where he could play more in order to finish the remainder of his career with meaning."
Ki himself has now taken to social media with a lengthy statement sharing his side of the dramatic developments.
He revealed that after being informed by boss Kim that he wouldn't be in his plans, he'd made the decision to retire.
However, after being persuaded by those close to him, he made a dramatic U-TURN to keep on playing.
Ki has now subsequently signed for Pohang Steelers.
On Instagram, he said: "I am writing this with a heavy and apologetic heart, thinking of the fans who support me.
"Recently, I heard from the manager that I was not in the team's future plans. I thought it was time for me to retire, so I told the manager that I would retire, and he said he would respect my wishes.
"However, my family and the football players I trust and rely on dissuaded me, saying that I could still do more as a player, and I took a few days to calmly look at myself in confusion.
"And I realised that I could still play more and that I had a strong desire to play more. It was really painful and difficult for me as a player to suppress this desire to play even if I only played for a few minutes.
"Of course, as a veteran, I thought deeply about whether this was my greed. However, when I focused on my feelings, I thought that 'I want to play and I can play' might be selfish, but it was my most honest feeling.
"I also thought that rather than ending my last days as a player like this, if I had the chance, I would do my best on the field and retire in a good way, which would be a way to repay the fans.
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"When I told the club about my feelings and waited for a team that needed me, Pohang coach Park Tae-ha was the first to contact me and I decided to transfer. It must have been a difficult decision, but I am very grateful to coach Park Tae-ha for embracing me.
"I know very well that you will be very surprised by the sudden news and that it will be difficult to accept. When I returned to Korea, I never imagined playing in a place other than Seoul, so this situation is still unfamiliar to me. When I think of the Seoul fans, my heart aches and I still can't sleep well. I feel sorry that this situation came about because of my shortcomings.
"It was a very difficult time for me to make this decision. Please understand my decision and cheer me on so that I can devote my remaining time as a soccer player and play soccer happily.
"FC Seoul is my hometown. It is also my pride. I was obsessed with this team so much that I wonder if there is anyone who loves this team as much as I do, and I wanted to burn my last here, and I really loved it.
"The colleagues I've worked with and the FC Seoul fans have been and are so precious to me that I can't forget them. Your love, which has always raised me up with deep affection and support, has always touched me.
"I promise that my feelings for you will never change and I will keep you in my heart forever. Please continue to support our players and be their strength!
"I'm so sorry to greet you with this news. Thank you. I love you."
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