Jesse Lingard of FC Seoul performs a “victory ceremony” towards followers after the membership’s 2025–26 Asian Soccer Confederation Champions League Elite league-stage Matchday 6 in opposition to Melbourne Metropolis at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Dec. 10. Yonhap
“I’ve been so completely satisfied right here. It has been a improbable two years.”
With these phrases, Jesse Lingard, captain of Okay League 1 facet FC Seoul, bid an emotional farewell to followers. Smiling as he started his remarks, Lingard quickly broke down in tears as he mentioned goodbye, bringing his time in Korea to an in depth.
Lingard performed his closing match in a Seoul shirt, Dec. 10, at Seoul World Cup Stadium, going through Melbourne Metropolis within the sixth group-stage match of the 2025–26 Asian Soccer Confederation Champions League Elite. He marked the event with a first-half opener within the thirty first minute, providing followers a “final present” regardless of the 1-1 draw. The outcome mattered lower than parting with teammates, membership workers and supporters.
“Over the previous two years in Korea, I grew as an individual,” Lingard mentioned. “Turning into captain taught me accountability, and I met teammates who will likely be mates for all times. Seoul is a membership that all the time goals for titles and first place. I’ll hold supporting a stronger Seoul from afar.” He later led followers in a well-recognized victory chant earlier than shouting in Korean, “Thanks. I really like you!”
Those that shared his journey, together with fullback Kim Jin-su, international defender Yazan Al-Arab and interpreter Ki Ji-yong, have been visibly emotional as nicely. Thus ended the Korean chapter of the so-called “Seoul man.”
‘Captain Lingard?’ from doubt to belief
Paul Pogba, left, and Jesse Lingard have a good time a aim whereas taking part in for Manchester United in the course of the 2016–17 Premier League season. Reuters-Yonhap
Lingard’s captaincy as soon as drew skepticism overseas. Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes expressed shock earlier this 12 months when he realized Lingard was Seoul’s captain. Showing on a YouTube channel with Park Ji-sung and Patrice Evra, Scholes reacted skeptically after Park mentioned Lingard was carrying the armband. Scholes mentioned he beloved Lingard however didn’t see him as a captain, joking even after Evra reminded him that Korean followers considered him in another way.
Paul Scholes, a legendary midfielder for Manchester United / AP-Yonhap
That response mirrored Lingard’s previous picture at United, the place he was typically labeled a mischievous expertise. In the course of the 2016–17 season, when United struggled within the Premier League, he drew criticism after a video surfaced of him dancing within the locker room with Paul Pogba.
In Seoul, nevertheless, Lingard confirmed a unique facet. He joined the membership in February 2024 on a two-plus-one-year deal and rapidly earned a fame for professionalism. When then-captain Ki Sung-yueng was sidelined by harm, Lingard served as interim captain, encouraging youthful gamers and consoling teammates after errors. This season, he was named full-time captain.
Head coach Kim Gi-dong mentioned Lingard was a participant who was strictest with himself, including that his competitiveness and sense of accountability modified the staff’s environment.
Lingard additionally tried to instill the “profitable mentality” he realized at United. “From a younger age, I used to be informed that Manchester United gamers should all the time win,” he mentioned, describing himself as a captain who couldn’t settle for defeat. His affect confirmed within the numbers: six targets and three assists in 26 league matches in 2024, adopted by 10 targets and 4 assists in 34 matches this season.
Kim Gi-dong, left, head coach of FC Seoul, and Jesse Lingard attend an official press convention forward of the 2025–26 Asian Soccer Confederation Champions League Elite league-stage Matchday 1 in opposition to FC Machida Zelvia at Machida Gion Stadium in Japan, Sep. 15. Courtesy of Korea Skilled Soccer League
Kim mentioned parting with Lingard was troublesome. “For 2 years, he saved me busy,” the coach mentioned. “He typically got here to my workplace to speak ways and requested immediately why he was unnoticed of the lineup. I’ll miss him, and I hope Korean gamers can be taught from his confidence and important mindset.”
Changing Lingard will likely be a problem. Kim mentioned Lingard performed a key position in receiving the ball stably between the traces, including that the staff would experiment throughout winter coaching. Seoul faces ACLE matches in opposition to Vissel Kobe and Sanfrecce Hiroshima subsequent February with out him.
From Manchester United prodigy to Okay League chief
Jesse Lingard performs for Manchester United in the course of the 2021–22 season. EPA-Yonhap
As soon as hailed as the way forward for United and English soccer, Lingard joined the membership’s academy at age seven in 2000 and was promoted to the primary staff in 2011. Early loans to Leicester Metropolis, Birmingham Metropolis and Brighton & Hove Albion helped form his profession, with a four-goal debut at Birmingham standing out.
Underneath supervisor Louis van Gaal, Lingard made his Premier League debut within the 2014–15 opener in opposition to Swansea Metropolis, although harm minimize the looks quick. At Swansea that season was Ki, who had scored the league’s opening aim, making their later reunion in Seoul a reminder of soccer’s twists of destiny.
Lingard etched his identify into United historical past within the 2016 FA Cup closing, scoring the extra-time winner in opposition to Crystal Palace to safe the membership’s first FA Cup in 12 years. His finest season got here in 2017–18, with 13 targets and 7 assists in 48 matches.
Jesse Lingard, proper, performs for the England nationwide staff on the 2018 Russia World Cup. AP-Yonhap
He additionally represented England at each youth degree earlier than reaching the senior staff and starring on the 2018 World Cup, the place he scored a curling strike in opposition to Panama after incomes a penalty earlier within the match.
Inconsistency later weighed him down. Kim mentioned Lingard had sturdy delight however generally appeared to surrender when matches didn’t go his method, including that he suggested Lingard that leaders should lead by motion. From the 2018–19 season, Lingard’s kind declined, and he was finally loaned to West Ham United. There, he loved a resurgence in early 2021, scoring 9 targets with 4 assists in 16 league video games and serving to West Ham qualify immediately for the Europa League.
That momentum light once more. After changing into a free agent within the 2022–23 season, Lingard joined Nottingham Forest on a profitable deal however struggled with accidents and kind, leaving and not using a aim contribution and going through criticism.
Jesse Lingard poses throughout an official press convention asserting his signing with FC Seoul at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Feb. 8, final 12 months. Yonhap
Together with his European profession faltering, Lingard drew curiosity from leagues in america and Saudi Arabia however selected an surprising vacation spot: Korea. At his unveiling press convention in February 2024, he mentioned he needed to play “completely satisfied soccer” the place he might get common minutes. Seoul followers welcomed him by filling greater than 60,000 seats for his Okay League debut.
Regardless of his pedigree, Lingard approached coaches and teammates first and confirmed respect for Korean tradition, incomes widespread affection. His off-the-ball motion, tactical consciousness and unselfish passing stood out within the league, together with relentless urgent and defensive work. He emerged as a unique sort of chief, changing into one of many Okay League’s greatest stars.
Seoul sought a one-year extension, however Lingard opted to maneuver on. Rumors hyperlink him to a return to the Premier League, in addition to golf equipment in China and Malaysia. Just lately, his photograph briefly appeared on the roster web page of Malaysian powerhouse Johor Darul Ta’zim earlier than being eliminated, fueling hypothesis over his subsequent step.
In line with the Korea Skilled Soccer League, Lingard topped the league’s wage checklist final 12 months at 1.82 billion received ($1.3 million). Transfermarkt estimates his market worth at 2.2 million euros.
This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
