To Fly More High

Song Jong-kook (23, Busan Icons) will start a new career in the Netherlands’ League. He was favored most by Hiddink.

His team announced on August 12th that it decided to transfer Song to Feyenoord Rotterdam, a renowned Netherlands’ team for $400 million (approximately 4.8 billion won, including $144 million tax). He will basically receive $400,000 a year for 5 years.

Song will renew his contract every year, and will receive many perks, based on his performance. Thus he can make more than the basic salary. In addition, the team will provide a car and housing to Song.

Busan also announced that it agreed with Feyenoord to hold a friendly match every year and receive benefits including 10% of the transfer money if Song gets re-traded.

Song has already left for Netherlands on August 11th for physical checkup, and is expected to come back with his new team officials on 15th for the consummation ceremony on 16th. On 18th, he will play for the last time in a home game, and will leave again for Netherlands on 21st. As early as possible, he will play in a game against JC on August 25th.

Last year, Feyenoord grabbed the championship of the UEFA Cup and ranked 3rd in the League. In other words, it is a well-known team with stable performance based on the wide pool of players.

Nonetheless, Song will secure his spot in the line-up. Feyenoord has traded out its Australian player in charge of right-side defense. Feyenoord plans to make up a dream combination of Asian players, coupling Song with the Japanese star Ohno Shinji.

Pim Bearpak, who once coached the Korean National Team, played a role in Feyenoord’s decision. The second man of Feyenoord, Director Rob Ban, is a close friend of him, and thus, Feyenoord could get to obtain direct information on Song.

If Song succeeds in securing his post, he will have a chance to play in the game of his dream. His new team has moved up to the third round in the preliminaries for Champions League, which is called a World Cup for European club teams.

In the meanwhile, Feyenoord is expected to take on the PVS Eindhoven on November 17th that is led by the former Korean World Cup team Coach Guus Hiddink. If Song plays in the game, it will be a match between a teacher and his pupil.

Keuk-In Bae bae2150@donga.com