Korean International Seol Ki Hyeon made his debut in the English Premiership for Reading on 19th August 2006. It was also Reading’s first game in the top flight and they managed to come back from being 2-0 down to beat Middlesbrough 3-2. Since then Reading have continued to make an impressive start to the season and Ki Hyeon has been one of the star players, managing to score goals in the 2-0 victory over Charlton, the 2-1 victory over Sheffield United and the winning goal in the 1-0 victory over West Ham. It has been a dream start for both the player and the club who have worked hard to get where they are.
Reading are traditionally a small club from a town West of London. They have never really been famous for football, but when local businessman John Madejski bought the club in 1990, things started to change. People were a bit dubious of him at the start, as he was more interested in raising the profile of the town rather than the football club. However, his aims were to deliver Premiership football and to build the team a new stadium. He has succeeded in both. Reading moved from their tiny Elm Park to the spacious Madejski stadium in 1998 and finally made it into the Premiership after coming close on several occasions in 2006.
One of Reading’s first signings on reaching the Premiership was Seol Ki Hyeon. He rose to fame in 2002, scoring the equaliser in the World Cup game with Italy. His ambition has always been to play in one of Europe’s top leagues and after successful stints in Belgium and Holland he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2004. However, despite being a big club and having ex-England manager Glenn Hoddle at the helm they were unable to gain promotion, which led to Seol leaving the club. On joining Reading he stated that he was happy at the level of ambition at the club and had been impressed with the team when playing against them for Wolves. As well as scoring some important goals, including the winner against West Ham, which is already a candidate for goal of the season he won the club’s player of the month in the first 2 months he was there (August and September)
Both Reading and Ki Hyeon will be hoping to carry on their good start in the Premiership, as they push for a place for Europe in the New Year.
- Neil Holloway
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