Osmar (37), a "long-lived foreigner" who represents the K-League, is preparing for his 11th season in Korea.
Osmar joined the K-League in 2014 and has played a total of 10 seasons to play in 313 matches. Having played 282 matches in the first division, Osmar also played in 31 matches in the K-League 2 last year, setting a new record of 300 matches. This is a golden top that even Korean players can hardly achieve.
Still boasting top-notch skills, Osmar is among the top foreign players in the K-League. With Dejan (380 matches) ranking first, chances are high that Osmar will rise to the second place this season, surpassing Shinthev (325 matches) and Nilsson Jr. (315 matches).
"It's something I've always done, but I have a strong commitment to go in a better direction than ever," Osmar told reporters at the Summit Windmill Golf Club in Bangkok, Thailand on Sunday. "I think I have a strong commitment this season because I failed to get promoted by a slight margin last year. I'm preparing to go higher," he said, expressing his commitment to prepare for the 2025 season.
Osmar is also agonizing over his final years as he is still at an age when he will retire. "I don't know the future. There is nothing I can guarantee at this point. This could be the last year," he said. "I think I need to focus more because I don't know how much longer I will be able to do it. In fact, I didn't know how close I came to Dejan's record. I often keep in touch with Dejan, but I don't know if I will be able to break that record. Maybe I should talk to my wife when fall comes."
The goal is clear. It is to promote Seoul E-Land. Last year, Seoul E-Land went to the promotion playoff, but failed to achieve its goal by losing to Jeonbuk Hyundai. Despite this, Seoul E-Land also showed good performance, as it had a tight race against top-tier teams. Osmar also scored in the first match, giving hope to the team.
"The results were disappointing but positive in terms of performance. I think it was a game to change mindsets both internally and externally," Osmar said. "The first goal was special for me as well. He scored a very important goal against Jeonbuk, which he faced as a rival during the FC Seoul period. It was meaningful to show everyone the hope that he can do it. I still remember the expressions of players and staff after scoring the goal. He looked really hopeful," he said.
Osmar's role, which is the core of defense, is important. "It wasn't enough. I should have played more games. I think I need to play at least 35 games this year," Osmar said, adding, "Now I have a higher standard. I need to improve in every aspect." 먹튀검증
Osmar plays a key role in central defense with Kim Oh-kyu, who is one year younger. Some people are concerned about the aging of the defense line, but Osmar thinks differently. "Thanks to Kim, I can easily pull off my role. He covers a lot of people. His personality and play itself are rough-and-ready and go well with me. He also plays a good role as a leader. He is a good player when he comes forward without being lazy. They complement each other by encouraging each other but pushing each other harder," Osmar said, displaying confidence in his chemistry.
In this season, Seoul E-Land replaced all foreign players except Osmar. "In fact, foreigners tend to look up to Korean players more because they don't know me," Osmar said with a smile. "The K-League has a lot of expectations from foreign players. I will rely on them, so I have to play responsibly." He also advised them to learn and adapt to the Korean style comfortably, but also to keep up with their own style and strengths.