Yeo Oh-hyeon (45), Hyundai Capital’s playing coach, is called a living legend and a textbook in the libero world. So far, he has played in 597 regular league games and is on the verge of playing in 600 games. This is the record for the most appearances in both men and women.
The records he has accumulated so far are also staggering. He won the Libero Award for his inaugural season in 2005 and was awarded the Defensive Award for the 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2009-10 seasons. He was named BEST7 Libero in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. He has also lifted numerous trophies. He recorded 6 times with Samsung Fire and 2 times with Hyundai Capital.
The V-League’s overall receiving efficiency is 66.211%, and it is recording 2.462 digs per set. In addition, in December 2009, the V-League’s first defense of 5,000, and in December 2015, it achieved a record of 10,000 defense. Currently, the defense record is 13,109, and Yeo Oh-hyun is the only player to exceed 10,000 defense in the men’s division. In second place is Choi Busik, a retired Korean Air coach, with 8,587. In third place is Kwak Seung-seok, who plays for Korean Air, with 8,140.
Unlike before, the playing time has decreased, but it does not mean that the skill has also decreased. At the beginning of this season, Hyundai Capital coach Choi Tae-woong set up coach Yeo Oh-hyun as a two-man libero system with Park Kyung-min, and coach Yeo Oh-hyun is showing stable receiving, befitting the coach’s belief.
While playing 22 games and 67 sets this season, he ranks first in receiving with 52.87%. Lately, Park Kyung-min is in charge of both receive and dig, but when Park is faltering, coach Yeo Oh-hyun comes in and gives him strength. In addition, he gives strength to his younger brothers on and off the court with a loud voice, and is a threat to his opposing servers just by being on the court.
Coach Tae-Woong Choi, who ate a pot of rice at Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, Hyundai Capital, and the national team during his active career. Coach Tae-Woong Choi, who wrote numerous success stories by receiving his receive and giving credit to the strikers, showed respect to Coach Oh-Hyun Yeo.
Coach Tae-Woong Choi said, “Coach Oh-Hyeon Yeo is amazing. Right now, my wits have slowed down a bit, so Kyung-min is joining, but his skills are still the same. I also seem to be born with stamina. He never said it was physically difficult. Please bear with it,” he said.
Director Choi Tae-woong is not the only one who shows respect. Players in their early 20s also learn a lot from watching Yeo Oh-hyun.
Apposite spiker Heo Soo-bong said, “Even if I do off-season physical exercise, I don’t sag. Even though he is old, the fighting sound is louder than anyone else,” he said. “The physical part is also different. He takes care of his body and does thorough strengthening exercises, and even in the sauna he loosens up his muscles well.”
Outside hitter Hong Dong-seon said, “Coach Oh-hyun Yeo’s son is a junior at my school. I remember when he came to the pitch, he always told me to work hard. Doesn’t he say he doesn’t know life? He used to be called ‘Kwang-woo (coach Oh-hyun’s son) father’, but now he calls me coach.”
Over the past two seasons, as Hyundai Capital entered a rebuilding mode, coach Yeo Oh-hyun’s playing time decreased. But he wasn’t gifted. It just didn’t make it to the leaderboard due to a lack of regulation share, but recorded 47.2% in the 2020-21 season and 55.3% in the 2021-22 season. All of them were higher than No. 1. 토토사이트
Previously, director Choi Tae-woong talked about the ’45-year-old project’ to actively help Yeo Oh-hyun to play until the age of 45. This year, Yeo Oh-hyun turns 45 years old. Thanks to his thorough self-management, sincerity, and the support of the club, his skills are still the same. He is too good to retire.