Pohang Steelers striker Lee Ho-jae (26) has clearly elevated his game.
Born in 2000, he has now firmly established himself as a striker representing not just Pohang but the entire K League. After receiving love calls from multiple overseas clubs last winter, Lee chose to stay and redoubled his efforts. He vowed to prove his worth and seek an overseas move on his own terms.
True to his word, he is soaring. This season, Lee has scored 7 goals in 14 matches, averaging 0.5 goals per game. If he played every minute of every match, that pace would translate to 19 goals over a full season. In the scoring charts, he is level with Mugosa (Incheon United).
In 14 games, Lee has attempted 28 shots, with 14 on target. While his total shots rank 10th, his shots on target are 3rd. Half of his attempts have been directed toward goal. With 7 goals from those 14 on-target shots, it means one in every two accurate strikes finds the back of the net. This underscores his remarkable composure in front of goal.
Furthermore, his height (191 cm) makes him a dominant aerial presence, ranking 2nd in aerial duels won (58). Opposing defenders inevitably feel the burden of marking him. Lee also leads the league in fouls drawn (3), which speaks volumes.
Moreover, Lee’s 7 goals account for 58% of Pohang’s total goals (12) this season. While Jo Sang-hyuk and Juninho (both with 2 goals) have recently contributed to the scoring, Lee’s presence remains immense. Beyond scoring, he also excels at holding up the ball, unselfish passing to teammates, and linking play.
Recently, head coach Park Tae-ha has deployed a two-striker formation to alleviate the intense marking Lee faces. Lee is fixed as the frontline target, partnered with players like Jo Sang-hyuk or Tranjisca. Such is his importance to the team as an irreplaceable striker.
After Pohang’s 1-0 away victory against Incheon in Round 14, Coach Park praised Lee: “Lee Ho-jae is showing far more improvement than last season. His ability to time his pressing from the front and lead the attacking line is excellent. He has played a huge role in getting the team to this position.”