Hong Myung-bo's surprise release of mixed-race castrope who is also interested in China...Advantages are off-the-ball movements, Hwang In-beom's new partner potential

Aug 27, 2025

Hong Myung-bo's surprise release of mixed-race castrope who is also interested in China...Advantages are off-the-ball movements, Hwang In-beom's new partner potential
Source=Jens Castrov SNS Capture



Hong Myung-bo's surprise release of mixed-race castrope who is also interested in China...Advantages are off-the-ball movements, Hwang In-beom's new partner potential
At the Seoul Shinmun-ro Football Center on the 25th, Hong Myung-bo, head coach of the national soccer team, announced the list of call-ups for the two consecutive A matches in September. Director Hong Myung-bo answers questions. Reporter Huh Sang-wook @sportschosun.com/2025.08.25/
The naturalization of mixed blood player Jens Kastroff (Borussia Mönchengladbach) to Korea was enough to attract the attention of other countries.

The Chinese portal 'Sohoo Dotcom' reported on the 26th that Hong Myung-bo, the coach of the South Korean national soccer A team, included Kastrov in the September A match list.

The media reported that `Kastrov's selection is drawing the most attention in the new position,' adding that `Kastrov not only strengthens the national team's overall strength, but also has the potential to become a key player in Hong's experimental three-back formation and a new partner for Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord.'




The newspaper introduced that Kastroff gained recognition by playing for the German youth team and moved to Mönchengladbach this summer after a good time in the Bundesliga's second division, Nuremberg. He also made his debut through the first round of the DFB Pokal on the 17th and made his Bundesliga debut as a substitute on the 25th.

Hong Myung-bo's surprise release of mixed-race castrope who is also interested in China...Advantages are off-the-ball movements, Hwang In-beom's new partner potential
Source=Jens Castrov SNS Capture
Born in 2003 to a Korean mother and a German father, Kastrov was a naturalized player who was selected for the national team for the first time in the history of Korean soccer, he added, "'When Kastrov recently completed the process of changing his affiliation from the German Football Association to the Korean Football Association, Hong immediately selected him for the national team.'"

Citing Korean media and others, "Sohoo Dotcom" explained that although Kastroff plays both right fullback and right midfielder, his preferred position is a (center) midfielder, and thanks to his excellent mobility, he exerts high-intensity pressure and contributes greatly to the attack by moving in off-the-ball situations.




Coach Hong said in a press conference to announce the list "Kastrov played well in the German second division last season. Since we've been promoted to the Bundesliga this season. At least once, he said he was fully qualified to play for the national team, but it is different from what he actually said, whether there was a translation problem or not. Coach Hong said, `Kastrov is young, but he has already grown steadily by experiencing it on the German stage. Above all, I appreciated that he showed a strong will and responsibility to join Korea. I think his passion will be an advantage and give him a new lease of life."

Hong Myung-bo's surprise release of mixed-race castrope who is also interested in China...Advantages are off-the-ball movements, Hwang In-beom's new partner potential
Source=Sohoo homepage capture
Hong also selected the player based only on his performance aspect because he is a coach. Recently, a coach from Gyeonggi Province went to the scene and saw it in person. He is a slightly different type of player from the central midfielder in the third line. There are Hwang In-beom, Kim Jin-gyu, Park Yong-woo, and Won Doo-jae, but (Kastrov) is a fighter. It's a very rough style in it. I think it would be good to think that the type is a little different from the third-term players now. I think it can be a plus for our team."

Hong Myung-bo will depart for the U.S. on the 1st of next month and play two A-match warm-up matches against the U.S. at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, on the 7th and Mexico at Geodis Park in Nashville, Tennessee on the 10th.




In October, they will face Brazil (10th) and Paraguay (14th, Seoul World Cup Stadium) in South Korea. On the 26th, sparring with Brazil, the world's strongest team, was confirmed for the first time in two years and 10 months.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.