Bae Jun-ho (Korean: 배준호; born 21 August 2003) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or left winger for EFL Championship club Stoke City and the South Korea national team.
 Bae Jun-ho with Daejeon Hana Citizen in 2023. | |||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bae Jun-ho | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 21 August 2003 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Daegu, South Korea[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Attacking midfielder, left winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||
Current team | Stoke City | ||||||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2014 | Daegu FC[note 1] | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Daegu Banyawol Elementary School | ||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2018 | Daeryun Middle School | ||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Cheonan Jeil High School | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021 | Pyeongtaek Jinwee | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 17 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 25 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 2023– | Stoke City | 52 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | South Korea U20 | 21 | (5) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | South Korea U23 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||
| 2024– | South Korea | 5 | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Medal record
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|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 12:30, 9 November 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 00:00, 14 November 2024 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||
| Bae Jun-ho | |
| Hangul | 배준호 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 裵峻浩 |
| Revised Romanization | Bae Junho |
| McCune–Reischauer | Pae Chunho |
Bae began his professional career with Daejeon Hana Citizen, helping them gain promotion to K League 1 in the 2022 season. After impressing in his debut season in the Korean top flight and for the South Korea U20 team he moved to European football with English Championship club Stoke City in August 2023.
Club career
editDaejeon Hana Citizen
editBae started his career in the academy of Daegu FC. Afterwards, he attended Daegu Banyawol Elementary School, Daeryun Middle School, Cheonan Jeil High School and Jinwee High School.[2] While playing for Pyeongtaek Jinwee, the football club of Jinwee High School, he was considered one of his country's best talents.[3]
In January 2022, following interest from a number of clubs across Europe, as well as former club Daegu, he signed for K League 2 side Daejeon Hana Citizen.[3] He made eleven appearances in his first season with Daejeon as he helped his team win the promotion play-offs against Gimcheon Sangmu.[4] In the 2023 season, Bae received more playing time in K League 1, as he continued his integration into the squad from the reserve team.[5]
On 27 August 2023, Daejeon officially announced that they had reached an agreement with EFL Championship side Stoke City for the transfer of Bae on a permanent deal.[6][7]
Stoke City
editOn 31 August 2023, Bae joined Stoke City for an undisclosed fee on a four-year contract.[8] He scored his first goal in English football on 24 February 2024 in a 2–1 defeat against Cardiff City and followed this up a week later in a 2–0 victory against Middlesbrough.[9][10] In the 2023–24 season, Bae made 40 appearances as Stoke successfully avoided relegation, finishing in 17th position.[11][12] He was named the club's Player of the Year in his first season at Stoke City.[13]
In the 2024–2025 season, he has shown impressive performance as an ace, receiving No. 10, also known as an ace player's uniform number. He has been a great help to his team by recording five assists so far.[14]
International career
editYouth
editAfter representing South Korea at under-19 level in a number of friendlies, Bae was called up to the under-20 squad for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualification. Having scored in two qualifiers against Mongolia and Malaysia, he was called up to the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup.[15] Although South Korea failed to win the tournament by being knocked out in the semi-finals by Uzbekistan, Bae was still praised for his performances.[16]
Bae was called up to the under-20 squad for the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He started quietly in the tournament, but South Korea finished fourth under his influence. When he scored one and provided an assist in a 3–2 victory against Ecuador,[17] Ecuadorian manager Miguel Bravo described him as a "Brazilian".[18] Italian manager Carmine Nunziata defeated South Korea in the semi-finals, but he was also attracted to Bae's performance.[19]
Senior
editBae made his debut for the South Korea national team on 6 June 2024 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Singapore at the Singapore National Stadium. He came on from the bench to replace Lee Jae-sung in the 70th minute and scored 9 minutes later, as South Korea won 7–0.[20]
He has continued his good performance as a winger since he was also selected for the A national team in October 24. In addition, he is highly anticipated as a side resource for the Korean national team with two assists in two games.[21][unreliable source?]
Style of play
editAn attacking midfielder who is comfortable using both feet, Bae has been regarded for his passing range and dribbling, as well as his balance and stamina.[3]
Personal life
editBae has cited fellow South Korean Hwang In-beom, as well as Kevin De Bruyne, as his biggest footballing role-models.[4]
Career statistics
editClub
edit- As of matches played 9 November 2024[22]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Daejeon Hana Citizen B | 2022 | K4 League | 17 | 5 | — | — | — | 17 | 5 | |||
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | 2022 | K League 2 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 2[c] | 0 | 11 | 1 | |
| 2023 | K League 1 | 17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 2 | |||
| Total | 25 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 28 | 3 | |||
| Stoke City | 2023–24 | Championship | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 40 | 2 | |
| 2024–25 | Championship | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 52 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 56 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 94 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 101 | 10 | ||
- ^ Appearances in the FA Cup and Korean FA Cup
- ^ Appearances in the EFL Cup
- ^ Appearances in K League 2 promotion play-offs
International
edit- As of match played 14 November 2024[23]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | |||
| 2024 | 5 | 2 | |
| Career total | 5 | 2 | |
- Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.[23]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 June 2024 | Singapore National Stadium, Singapore |  Singapore |
6–0 | 7–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 14 November 2024 | Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium, Kuwait City, Kuwait |  Kuwait |
3–1 | 3–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
editSouth Korea U23
Individual
Notes
edit- ^ Played for Daegu FC U12 in 2013, and Daegu Sinheung Elementary School in 2014, which were academies of Daegu FC.
References
edit- ^ a b Bae Jun-ho at WorldFootball.net
- ^ Bae Jun-ho – K League stats at kleague.com (in Korean)
- ^ a b [서보원의 온 더 볼] U-20 대표 MF 배준호, "롤모델은 대전 선배 황인범" [[Seo Bo-won's on the ball] U-20 international MF Bae Jun-ho, "My role model is Daejeon senior Hwang In-beom"] (in Korean). FIFA. 15 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ [현장목소리] '데뷔 2년 차' 대전 배준호의 패기, "아직 다 안 보여줬어" [[Voice from the scene] 'a sophomore' Daejeon Bae Jun-ho's spirit, "I haven't shown everything yet"] (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 27 April 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ Joo, Dae-eun (28 August 2023). '대전의 아들'이 '남자의 팀'으로 배준호, 스토크 시티 이적을 위해 출국 "항상 꿈꿔왔던 순간..최종 목표는 빅리그 진출". Naver (in Korean). Sportalkorea. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ Bulley, Jim (28 August 2023). "Bae Jun-ho flies to Britain to sign with Stoke City". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
- ^ "Bae Junho joins the Potters". Stoke City. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
- ^ "Cardiff City 2-1 Stoke City: Cardiff hold on to end horrible home form". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Stoke 2-0 Middlesbrough: Potters breathe life into survival fight". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ Smith, Pete. "Pete Smith's Stoke City end of season player ratings for 35-man squad". Stoke Sentinel. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ "Southampton 0-1 Stoke City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Bae Junho bags Player of the Season award". Stoke City. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ SportsChosun (26 July 2024). "EPL Offer Feyenoord No Transfer to Highest Transfer Price Ever...Ba". Sports Chosun. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Bae Jun-ho" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ U-20 아시안컵서 빛나는 배준호...한국 축구 미래 밝다 [Bae Jun-ho is shining at the U-20 Asian Cup... The future of Korean football is bright] (in Korean). Ilgan Sports. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ 특훈 통했다, 특급 룸메와 해냈다... 해결사 배준호의 부활 [Special training succeeded, He achieved with his roommate... Solver Bae Jun-ho's revival]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
- ^ "Argentina 2023 graduates set for the FIFA World Cup 2026". FIFA. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Bae Jun-ho to Stoke City transfer latest as 'negotiations confirmed'". Stoke-on-Trent Live. 22 August 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ^ "Singapore v South Korea game report". ESPN. 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Bae Jun-ho showed as much technique as Lee Kang-in. This is the best harvest the Korean national soc." Maeil Business Newspaper. 17 October 2024. Retrieved 4 November 2024.
- ^ Bae Jun-ho at Soccerway
- ^ a b "Bae, Jun-ho". KFA. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "South Korea win WAFF U-23 Championship, Saudis 3rd". Arab News. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ "K-League XI vs. Atletico Madrid 3 – 2". Soccerway. 27 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2024.