VANCOUVER, BC – Marc Dos Santos knew there was something special about Hwang In-beom the first time he saw him play. Hwang’s fantastic footwork, ability to wriggle out of any situation on the field, decision-making on the ball, and commitment to playing without it, was exactly what the new Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach was looking for in a central midfielder.
His interest, most certainly, had been piqued. But it was after an early conversation with South Korean national team head coach Paulo Bento, who also coached Portugal for four years, that Hwang truly emerged as Dos Santos’ primary target.