Jesse Lingard ended his time at FC Seoul with a goal and a tearful farewell, leaving behind a message on where he believes the K League must improve.
The former Manchester United and Premier League star captained Seoul in his final match against Melbourne City on Wednesday in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage, scoring the team’s only goal before saying goodbye to home fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Lingard, one of the biggest names ever to play in the K League, joined FC Seoul in February 2024 on a two-year deal with a one-year extension option. The club offered to extend his stay, but he chose to move on, saying he wanted to test himself again “on a bigger stage.”
During the farewell match, Lingard played the full 90 minutes, found the net and celebrated with a “moonwalk” tribute to Michael Jackson.
In a farewell ceremony arranged by the club, Lingard addressed the fans, his voice shaking as he reflected on his two years in Korea.
“My journey in Korea ends here, but Seoul will always be in my heart,” he said.
He said his two years in South Korea was transformative.
“It’s been a good two years for me. I’ve learned a lot, I’ve become more mature,” he said.
“This year I had a lot of responsibility as captain, so I believe I can leave South Korea as a more mature player and person.”
At a press conference after the match, Lingard shared three areas he hopes the K League can improve: pitch conditions, club infrastructure and refereeing.
He pointed out that, unlike in Europe where under-soil heating keeps pitches playable in winter, some Korean grounds became untrainable in bad weather.
“There were times we simply couldn’t train because of the conditions, like when it snowed,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of investing in infrastructure around the team.
“Clubhouses and facilities must improve,” Lingard said. “It’s not only about physical or technical aspects. The environment has a huge impact on players mentally and psychologically.”
Refereeing was his final point.
“I’m not a player who usually has problems with referees,” he noted. “But there were games where it felt like emotions were being provoked on purpose. Sometimes it was very hard to control your feelings because of how the match was managed. That has to get better.”
As he prepared to fly back to England, Lingard said his immediate plan is to rest and spend Christmas with his daughter and family before deciding his next move in January.
ylee221@heraldcorp.com
