Get the captain's armband from Son Heung-min / South Korea does not want a 34-year-old captain, not a 30-year-old

A Korean media outlet believes that 34-year-old or even 30-year-old players should not wear the captain's armband of the national team.

According to Sports Three, the discussion of youthism in the South Korean national team is extremely hot. In a controversial report, the Korean newspaper Sports Kyungyang entered the case of the change of generation in the South Korean national team and claims that the time has come for Son Heung-min to retire from the Korean national team and the captain's armband should go to young people who technically deserve it and not just because of their name.

This media says that South Korean football is living in fateful days. Looking at social networks in Korea, it is clear that the debate over the national team's captain's armband has become a big challenge at the country level, and some even refer to it as a battle between two generations of Korean footballers.

Kyungyang Sports newspaper, in a loud note published, believes that the leadership era of those born in 1992 in the national team is over, and of course, the generation born in 1996 still does not have the necessary qualifications and maturity to take the helm of the national team.

The author emphasizes that no player is bigger than the national team and the team should not be sacrificed to preserve the reputation of the stars.

Son Heung-min has been the undisputed captain of South Korea since the end of the 2018 World Cup in Russia and for more than eight years. However, the Korean newspaper without Rudrawaisi says that the armband belongs to 34-year-old Son Heung-min, who has failed to score in two consecutive World Cups, no longer seems logical.

Numerous incidents in recent years, from the incident with Lee Kang-in to other tensions within the camp, have shown that mere history and old popularity are not enough to lead the team. The proposal of this Korean media is not to abandon Son from football, it is to free him from the heavy burden of the captain's armband.

But Korea's challenge is not just to get the armband from Son. Is handing over the armband to famous figures of the 1996 generation like Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-bum or Hwang Hye-chan untidy? The author's answer is negative.

This group of players have shown that they still do not have the necessary peace and authority with many sidelines, tense interviews and even rumors of anger and resignation. The solution proposed by this note is for both generations to take a step back. The elders should open the space for healthy competition to the youngsters and pave the way for the future leaders instead of trying to prolong their football career at any cost.

After the 2026 World Cup and being eliminated from the group stage without winning a single victory, the Iranian national team suffered two consecutive defeats against Uzbekistan and Russia in the recent FIFA World Cup, and the alarm bell for a generational change has sounded in the Iranian national team. Iran's national team has been relying on a solid core of experienced players for years, from the time of Queiroz to Qalanoi, but the recent results proved that the time for a fundamental review has come.

Korean media say that youthism is not just a formal invitation to a few players, and these young people should be given armbands. In Iran, youthism should not be just a temporary invitation of a few young faces like Aria Yousefi, Mohammad Ghorbani or Daniyal Iri to Urdu. The new generation will be formed when it takes the real responsibility on the field and takes responsibility in the critical games. Korea says respect for veterans should not come at the expense of the national team. This is a fact that all national teams must acknowledge. Especially teams with a high average age that are about to change generations.