The Wonderkid Who Disappeared

Primary Source ► firsttimefinish.co.uk/2020/12...
More Reading ► bleacherreport.com/articles/2...
It’s not every day that a wonderkid who gets purchased for millions of dollars and scores in Serie A at 18 simply vanishes from the footballing record, but that is exactly what has happened. A promising young striker from an Italian academy that followed a path to stardom only to be forced to abandon it due to many things outside of his control.
What you’re probably not expecting to get involved in this story of the lost wonderkid is the actual United Nations. It also may be surprising that I actually knew this story nearly by heart, sure I did all the reading and found first-hand sources, but this kid was such a wonderkid that I signed him in Football Manager and googled him before. He was that good.
Much Love,
The Zealand
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MY FM SKIN ► zealand.gg/fmskin
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REDDIT ► / theoldzealand
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Thanks for watching and scrolling!
#Football #Soccer #Hashtags

[@GIBBO4182]

Wow…you’ve really took your Manscaped sponsorship seriously! 🤣

[@tetrafootball]

God didnt think that would happen

[@abcede3897]

​@@tetrafootball they paid him 2500000$

[@tetrafootball]

@@abcede3897 woah

[@GetCHuntd]

It's now called Manscalped

[@tommywilliamson6317]

​@@abcede3897 Well why would they pay 2.5 million?

He played two half seasons in my hometown club, Perugia, and in the first ten games he was MAD good, going to watch him play live was like seeing Messi among serie B players, defenders couldn't stop him to save their lives. Then the team had some very bad issues between the manager and the players, and he faded a bit, but in those first months he was all people were talking about in the league. I was there for the hat-trick you mention in the video, it was amazing.

[@thetemptedvida8650]

Dopo quelle partite non è mai tornato a quei livelli. Quando venne nell'u23 fu evanescente. Credo che dopo che esplose la sua popolarità ha cominciato a soffrire psicologicamente tutte le pressioni che aveva addosso. Poveraccio, più ci penso e più mi dispiace per com'è andata

[@fumie4996]

and apparently he can speak italian too

[@joaopires1761]

I hope people realise it's not that he doesn't care enough to know who Gerrard was, it's just that information in North Korea is controlled to an extent he'd have no way of finding out. No internet, no TV, no books nor magazines (other than perhaps a few Liverpool match highlights).

[@thargoff]

Yes. They probably have TV (state-owned) and limited internet (only inside the country) and magazines, etc., but the content is so strongly censored that he wouldn't be able to get this information. Also, they probably don't buy the PL and UCL licence to show games on TV....

[@hooni9390]

@@thargoff Limited internet isn’t the only problem. They lack electricity to do anything in the first place. They don’t have enough oil or coal to make electricty or get themselves warm.

[@Constanza235]

Kids in the Benfica academy had no idea who Chalana was and they flipped out when they saw videos of him in action. They had no idea of the absolute legend that was training them directly. If kids are this oblivious, I can't imagine a North Korean player who mostly focused in his life in Italy and his family in North Korea to pay much attention to England, seeing as how he would most likely never join an English team due to sanctions.

[@RansomMemoryAccess]

Amazes me this is even raised as an important point, both by Z and now in the most liked comment. Is ignorance of North Korea truly that widespread? Or is it more that people have so low expectations of their fellows that they would not only be ignorant but bigoted as well? Interesting how the neo-marxist zeitgeist of the West meets the old marxist zeitgeist of the East in this manner.

[@horscanigunger5098]

​@@thargoffIf Magazines? Only those who show you the "modern Gelsenkirchen Barock" and your working wife, two Kids as the pure joy of life. Had a Girl friend from Leipzig around 1999, as a West German. Her Father showed me Magazines... 😑

[@federicocanniferrari7090]

Fun fact: this relationship between north Corea and Italy, was also possible because back in the days when Kim jong un was unknown, he lived in Switzerland and he used to go at San Siro stadium in Milan to watch football games because he was an inter Fan, this was said by the guy in the video Antonio Razzi in a interview

[@tetrafootball]

Woah thank you

[@aldobonaso3481]

so Kim Jong Un was an Interista? Makes perfect sense actually...😅

[@johnny_rson9536]

Privately educated in Geneva, I want anecdotes from his classmates?!

[@dermilchmann25]

@@johnny_rson9536 He was apparently good at basketball

[@aspect359]

@@dermilchmann25 wtf he is fat and short💀

[@Bunniejasmine]

was literally just wondering about this kid the other day. such a sad story honestly, i hope he can still make a career for himself. definitely one of the big "what ifs" of recent years imo

[@tetrafootball]

So sad

[@Joe.Taylor]

The wonderkid that disappeared, just like zealands hair

[@riusson4144]

Crazy. Got him in my Dusseldorf save, this man is an absolute nuclear powerhouse. A glorious leader on the field

[@Deehydrate]

No pun intended

[@sergeantsupreme4395]

😐

[@mykullbubbles]

Kinda glad the political restrictions didnt apply in the FM

[@Mbarden1]

He doesn’t appear when I search him on the transfer market, how do I find him?

[@zarelli7831]

Are you from there?

[@chrismeeks809]

i feel so bad for this guy, prime example of why we should focus on criminalizing the governments of these nations and not the people. he didn’t know who gerrard is not bc he isn’t a huge football fan, but bc there’s no chance in hell Korea allowed them to watch foreign games. remember, they told the people they won the world cup

[@nameanteater4772]

Sanctions are starving the North Korean North Korea broadcast their games, the premier league games (now) and major tournaments. With this there is no way on earth you actually believe such absurd anti North Korean propaganda that they said they won the World Cup. THE PEOPLE WATCH THE GAMES LIVE.

[@Marg_Bar_Amrikkka]

Please learn how sanctions actually work, mate. It’s designed to hurt the people to get to their govt.

[@Z3NITH11]

I'm a simple man. Zep Guardiola uploads a video. I watch.

[@tetrafootball]

same

[@RockDatDubstep]

Hope the guy's doing alright. Can't be a nice feeling to have your dream ripped away from you and not being able to do anything about it in fear of something dangerous happening.

[@elliotknight99]

Another fantastic video from Zeazou

[@jenozzz]

I missed the update that Zealand went bald and got surprised

[@jenozzz]

for a great cause too 🥹

[@zebote]

Football Manager 2021 - this lad is free and is one of the most consistent and reliable strikers I've ever had on the game. He led my Dresden team to the Bundesliga and subsequently scored 44 in 44 and 33 in 33. No specific tactic but this man played alone up top and destroyed many hopes and dreams. Highly recommended to all!

[@BigShotJD]

I played in South Korea in Fm22 and Kwang Song Han was a stalwart of my side for 7, 8 years, helped me to multiple league titles and a couple of asian champions leagues. Love him for that.

[@AkshaySingh-ef6wz]

Damn I feel so bad for him

[@Q9Teen]

You gotta commit to your sponsorship

[@AkshaySingh-ef6wz]

@@Q9Teen I mean the player lmaooo

[@Q9Teen]

@@AkshaySingh-ef6wz LMAO

[@TheDarkKnightRacist]

Which one ?

[@welowee7610]

I feel so Bald for him

[@Sasquatch10]

I'm grateful for this video even though it makes me sad. The hopes and dreams of a young boy lost through no fault of his own.

[@maxlambie7788]

yeah, ig MPB really can be heartbreaking for some

[@Sasquatch10]

@@maxlambie7788 huh?

[@maxlambie7788]

@@Sasquatch10 having a joke ab zealand, dw :)

[@JonathanHernandez-mo2op]

it's even more heartbreaking considering that even though he stopped playing for Al-Duhail in 2020, he was still under contract until 2021, which means he was still obligated to the club until then, but he had to do so with no pay and no play

[@jamestyler12JT]

Didn’t know Matthew Santoro was such a big football fan.

[@TheBeastlyFollower]

As a fellow baldy, shaving it helped me massively. I always had long hair, wore it up with product sometimes when I played sports. Started falling out in high school, had noticeable thinning on top and a receded widows peak by 22. Bit the bullet and shaved it shortly after. MPB happens to lots of guys, just some of us a little sooner haha. Looks good on ya.

[@tetrafootball]

We still have hair and welcome bald people to sub and watch us

[@born7s]

he could make a transplant if it bothers him, no shame in that there are people that look better bald, tho

[@freedomisslavery6840]

lol cope

[@k1llsk]

I'd get a transplant b4 i cut my hair off, luckily my hair is lookin strong

[@Anders-B]

As another blessed with the same follicle genes as Arjen Robben I wish I had shaved my hair off sooner, but looking at Zealand like this brought back all the self conscious anxiety I had when I first did it.

[@Muss67]

It’s completely ridiculous that because of the plot of land he was born on a truly talent player doesn’t get the opportunity to play.

[@nameanteater4772]

Not to mention that the sanctions are also starving the North Korean people

[@Weirzy]

Erik Ten Haag really lost 7-0 at Anfield and is now talking about some missing North Korean wonderkid...

[@tetrafootball]

lol

[@Deehydrate]

And still top 3 in the prem, in the FA Cup And Euro League

[@apalicio13]

Because it was one loss, we keep winning and succeeding.

[@haroldsimarmsta750]

funny people nowadays focus on one embarassnent instead of the progress. well i guess it will be forgotten after a year, just like liverpool who lost 5 0 before and 7 2

[@franze4]

and just beat a team from the sh!7 overrated la liga 4-1 in the europa

[@rikgarrelt1613]

I signed him in my St. Pauli save in FM22 and he's actually really good

[@rikgarrelt1613]

As in, 10 goals in 18 Bundesliga games good

[@TheJaiwolf]

That's politically interesting.....

[@Kinggrave]

North Korea would like to know your location

[@rikgarrelt1613]

@@TheJaiwolf Part of my save was signing at least 1 player from a communist country every season lol

[@VidyaGamingOfficial]

Okay serious question, how did you "find" him? Do you actually send a scout to North Korea?

[@jackfr10]

So has your hair, Z! 😭 Well done for the charity work.

[@societyisscaredofmasculine8546]

Was it actually for charity?

[@AilinOGriobhtha]

Big fan of these videos where you're talking about shit that will have completely gone under the radar for most people.

[@bungaIowbill]

This is really great for your first KZbin video! Congrats, Erik!

[@Joe-ug8kg]

You look awesome mate. Your non-FM content these days is awesome!

[@Mysterialic]

In another timeline, Kwang-song is a Selangor legend.

[@tetrafootball]

or a prem legend

[@AzizulFarhan]

Really close to get him join Selangor to replace Rufino and pair with Ifedayo

[@kor6514]

Can you imagine now, Faisal Halim doing suii in front of Song 😭😭

[@richardgoldins4790]

My english/aussie you my fav youtuber

[@kresent5132]

The balls on this man to cold start this intro as if the YT folks wont be thrown off by this pep haircut is well quite frankly amazing.

[@WelziFC7]

In FM22 to relive old times I bought him in my MLS save with the Philadelphia Union. I knew the story of why his career was derailed and I wanted to give him a second chance. I was halfway surprised FM doesn’t have it coded into the game to block the transfer especially when trying to come to a country like the US 😅

[@thatguy5165]

Love this new style of videos from you, good job!

[@Thisworldisupsidedown]

As an Italian I'm more than surprised that someone took Razzi seriously. That guy is a living meme

[@Santiago-fn7ff]

Thanks, I was wondering so hard about him

[@RJWright98]

crazy story! great vid👍

[@adriancimpoi8765]

a tragic story of what could have been. I'm not saying he would have been the next Nakata level Asian player, but the man had a huge potential.

[@crawfordbrown75]

Loving the new look, you really suit it my man, keep up the great work!

[@tetrafootball]

great work

[@greenio1238]

This is the best Zealand informs vid of all time more like this please

[@gavinmallett9331]

Great vid & focus on Han, keep up the amazing work Z & team :D

[@tetrafootball]

Loved it too

[@NobletheSavage]

I love this kind of content from the Z man. HiTC seven's Alfie now has a worthy peer. Keep em' coming.

[@tetrafootball]

Love it too

[@scpjack7856]

God I’d love a collaboration between them. The Mista GG and Wendigoon of the football world.

[@TheJerryyy]

yeah it's interesting, but Alfie does a lot more research. Z just makes a video on 1 article, which he more or less just copies as a script

[@davidjr4903]

that hitc guys is unbearable to listen to

[@Dkmo94]

​@@davidjr4903 you're clearly talking about the Irish Guy

[@EamonCoyle]

you the man sir, fair play to you sticking to the deal and dawning the Pierluigi Collina !!

[@TopBeatzMusic]

Looking good man!

[@Zonaverdi_]

Looking good my man 💪

[@Q9Teen]

If you're in Premier League then he can be: Zep Guardiola Zealand ten Haag If you're in Serie A then he can be: Zealando Pioli Zealandino Spalletti Or if you're in La liga 2015-2018 he can be Zinedine Zealand

[@tetrafootball]

lol

[@DanielGiuseppeDiNiro]

Han Kwang-song, Ihattaren, Kaio Jorge... Piemonte FC is a wonderkid blackhole

[@kenpach1]

Went full USA for that Cagliari pronunciation then 😉 Great vid Zealand keep em coming. Thanks 🙏

[@hushedturtle]

Amazing work Zealand! inviting Alfred Schreuder to be face of this new video It is an achievement and a sign that the channel is growing more

[@mahomednaheez9862]

The man played against Syria yesterday

[@bennettr9218]

Han was actually a really good striker for me in... what would it be, FM 19? I was managing Juventus in the near future, and as Ronaldo was being phased out of the team with age, Han was actually a really prolific scorer, and the fact he was from North Korea was kinda an added bonus.

[@salsabila786]

I don't like this bans in sports, it's punishing players for something they're not responsible for. Sport should be for uniting people

[@CJ-MUFC]

Brothers’ the Megamind of FM 😩

[@FMDere]

Looking good with the chrome dome!

[@SuperJay23]

love it learning about other players

[@sickomode8455]

Hey z, great vid but if you want an idea for a video I can recommend the story of Club Brugge player Owen Otasowie who signed for them for 4 million pounds from my club (wolves) and then disappeared off the face of the earth, with his club having no clue where he is at this time

[@tomwilson5108]

I've been looking at the squads in the NK league. There is a player called Han Kwang song playing for kigwancha sports club.

[@FootballDudeMan]

back in 2021 the UN found him moving to rome but the trail goes cold by then

[@tdforce7584]

It is me or Zealand looks like Pep Guardiola or Ten Hag

[@jordanwilliams4505]

Remember him from playing fifa around that time, was a great wonderkid to sign on that game! When he moved to Juve, really thought his career would sky rocket, shame it never happened!

[@stephentaylor6617]

Lex Luther is now an FM content creator

[@Kimera794]

Such a sad story...

[@craiggibbons8228]

Looking beast mode with the haircut. Suits you dude.

[@zqualified3901]

I remember signing this guy on fifa. Always use to score loads of goals.

[@Maxes931]

He back I just saw him play for his nation last month

[@TheRadPlayer]

While it is horrible for Han to have to deal with all of this, I do understand not wanting to grant an exception for him, considering the political ramifications. It reminds me a lot Ri Myung Hun, who was close to moving to the NBA - but of course was blocked due to the political standoff with North Korea. And if they do something like... go against the regime publically, or renounce their citizenship, their families are almost guaranteed to end up in one of the notorious labour camps.

[@nameanteater4772]

You do know it’s the west and the UN who put the sanctions on North Korea (the largest sanctions placed on any country ever), these sanctions are the reason these players couldn’t compete at the highest level. Not even to mention that these sanctions are starving the North Korean people and denying them from imports of their vital things as well such as medicine etc. You do know that these players clearly still live in North Korea with their families, the North Korean people as a whole support the Kim dynasty and are able to remove them from power if they wish to do so. Also what is the proof of such proposed labour camps where did you here this? Has anyone seen them?

[@bananarama3624]

​@NameAnteater477 Yes, these labour camps do exist. They have LITERALLY been confirmed by North Korean defectors. The government obviously denies their illegal activities and they aren't allowing bodies such as the UN to check if it is true or not. You could've literally done one google search and found a (potentially) primary source but instead you decided to be a random person on the internet who is asking questions when you could've searched it up and found the answer in the time you wrote your comment. I endeavor that you do more research! It is a fun way of becoming more educated AND you fall for fake news less :D

[@nameanteater4772]

@@bananarama3624 I ask for proof and sourced and you tell me to “just Google it” I was asking which defectors, which papers etc say this

[@someoneintheinternet7443]

@@nameanteater4772 lol. Ok buddy. Guess someone does not know the meaning of oppression.

[@nameanteater4772]

@@someoneintheinternet7443 I mean sanctions which starve people is pretty oppressive. And that’s only 1 of many countries which are sanctioned in similar ways by the west (mainly the US)

[@fugginbazza]

Strong James Richardson vibes. Can see you now with sat in some pretty Italian piazza with a pastry, cappuccino and flicking through the Gazzetta dello Sport. I appreciate this comment may not be obvious to those unfamiliar with the UK's Channel 4 sporting output during the 90s.

[@gafferrrrr]

hey zealand, just a suggestion.... seb beaver is such an interesting wonderkid i was guted the save ended of course with the new game coming out, is there any chance you can go back and just fast forward to his retirement and go through his no doubt lustrous career, be very interesting were he would go what honors he would win and would put a nice finish to a story, hope its a good enough idea for a video, thanks ❤

[@DuctTapeBanditJ]

I would love a summary of the Canadian soccer drama.

[@LoCoAde87]

Such a sad story.

[@jrobb7282]

Love this type of video Also the bald look suits you! Looking good my guy

[@limeflashlight4101]

Good video

[@evan8654]

So sorry for this guy

[@crazypete614872011]

I remember when he signed for Juventus and then sold him, I was like wtf? I wanted to see him play

[@portuguese2256]

What's Mr Worldwide doing in Zealands channel?

[@user-ii9mc8rs9m]

Hope you get the all clear soon.

[@Tobk0SK]

Its extremely sad,imagine you are as talented as him but cant prove it just because you are from north korea

[@GTAJKR]

Grazie.

[@shikhargupta8387]

Damn! Top look brother

[@Magbrandt]

I remember this guy signed him in FM22, good times ^^

[@kayiktakiesek]

I'VE ALWAYS WONDERED ABOUT THIS GUY IN THE END.

[@nabri-nfg3262]

It looks good man, it suits you

[@lcirnbxnu715]

i can't get my eyes off his head

[@Darkmountaindweller]

He was awesome for me in FM19 , I wish he could play football

[@Zhang1000000]

Kag li are ree. Amazing stuff

[@WayneW3st]

Got him on my fifa 20 in career mode, ngl he was a solid league 2 player

[@thepandaken5475]

I don't know if it's full vid worthy, but I'd like a deeper dive on Callum Gribbin. The guy is a low division cheat code in FM with his crazy set piece rating but his mentals are terrible.

[@i.blomen]

I signed him for free in my Vålerenga save. Really good striker for the division.

[@peterruskov]

The g in Cagliari is silent.

[@Firito]

I guess you could say he... wondered away

[@andreastorti6856]

Never thought to hear antonio razzi in a zeeland video

[@arthursmith7694]

Had him on fifa 19, he balled out but no longer in the game in 21… RIP

[@jems7341]

BRO I WAS THINKING ABOUT HIM LITERALLY YESTERDAY WTF MY PHONE IS LISTENING TO MY THOUGHTS💀

[@silvestretovar]

Hey Z, you should do a video about the Venezuelan football federation. It is a complete mess, lost 2 managers in the past 3 years due to broken promises and failure to pay.

[@nameanteater4772]

Another country who’s people are being starved by sanctions

[@kakuite]

Yes Z, I was confused after seeing Johny Sins as well

[@andreafresca9869]

Never expected to see Antonio Razzi in a Zealand video, of all places😂

[@Marco-kz6go]

Never thought I'd see Antonio Razzi in one of your videos 😂

[@kiezorfc8559]

Wow that was a shock seeing all your hair gone

[@andresgirardo8481]

Looks like Ten Hag quit managing after the liverpool game and is now a streamer ala Luis Enrique.

[@koffeebeanz]

truly a monumentous head

[@MrKinyuOne]

Zealand photoshopped himself into the picture @4:54 and thought we wouldn't notice, smh PS: Great vid as always.

[@kiyu_u6009]

the beginnings of his football career is the funniest football story I've heard. lmfaooo "You get to meet Steven Gerrard" "Who???" 😂😂

[@TelcontarTargaryen]

Might be I am biased, because I myself am shaving my head for more than a decade now, but I like it, it looks good on you, especially with the beard. Let the beard grow out a bit more, and it will be excellent.

[@himeisfred]

hair looks good dudeski