The Untold Story of Ahn Jung-hwan’s Isolation in Italy: Lessons for Future Asian Players

Ahn Jung-hwan’s YouTube channel, Ahn Jung-hwan 19, recently hosted a familiar guest: Lee Jung-hyo, who has just been named head coach of K League 2 club Suwon Samsung Bluewings for the upcoming season. The pair have been close since college and later shared time at the professional level, and their long friendship is well known in Korean football circles.

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On the program, Lee spoke plainly about Ahn’s time at Serie A club Perugia, delivering unvarnished, behind-the-scenes accounts that drew a broad audience. The stories revealed lonely periods that stood in sharp contrast to the glamorous public image many fans remember, and those disclosures moved viewers.

Lee recounted specific examples of the hazing Ahn endured. Perugia used two training grounds, referred to as A and B, which sat roughly a 40-minute drive apart. The bigger issue, Lee said, was a dysfunctional communication chain: announcements about training locations didn’t come directly from the coach but filtered informally through teammates.

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Lee said some teammates deliberately fed Ahn false training locations to embarrass him. On more than one occasion, Ahn followed their directions to the A ground and found it empty, forced to absorb the humiliation alone.

While Lee remained in Korea, he called Ahn about once a month and heard directly about the hardships of life abroad. He said he felt his friend’s mistreatment and loneliness as if they were his own. On the broadcast, Lee revisited those memories and reaffirmed the depth of their friendship.

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Ahn, who experienced those moments firsthand, gave a rueful smile when Lee brought them up — a small reaction that hinted at how heavy the pressure had been. As the first Korean to play in Serie A, he not only had to prove himself on the pitch but also confront subtle discrimination within the team. His perseverance remains a model for the younger Koreans now playing in Europe.

Lee, who shared these stories, is now in a pivotal first season as manager of Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Supporters hope he will pursue promotion with the bold, attacking approach he favored last year.

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After a warm reunion with his longtime friend Ahn, Lee paused briefly before returning to the field to prepare for the season. Though their careers have taken different directions since retirement, both men remain deeply committed to the game and to one another — a sincerity that resonated with viewers.

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