Song Ui-young

Early life Song was born in Incheon, South Korea and spent most of his childhood between school and football. Song was known as a quiet child during his schooling days, but stood out for his footballing skills and passion for the sport. He was scouted in his final year of elementary school to join Cheong Wang Middle School, a school renowned for its footballing programme. Song also moved to the dormitory as the school premises were situated in the Gyeonggi-do province, away from Incheon where he lived.

Club career

Youth At the age of 13, Song began training with the school team of Cheong Wang Middle School. In the final year of middle school, Song was made the team captain and his head coach also put in a recommendation during his graduation for him. to attend his high school education at Yeouido High School, which was known for its affiliations with K League Classic club Suwon Samsung Bluewings.

Song often spearhead the attacking players in the false nine position. Alongside Shahril Ishak, he enjoyed a prolific start to the 2018 Singapore Premier League campaign before encountering an injury that ruled him out for the latter half of the season. Song also played a pivotal role in helping the club to a second-place finish, scoring a total of 20 goals over the entire season, securing Home United with a play-off slot for the AFC Champions League as well as its highest ever AFC Cup finish in the quarter-finals.

On 1 November 2018, it was reported that Song had rejected interest from Indonesian giants Persija Jakarta. Despite being offered a deal worth US$20,000 per month from the Indonesian club, Song chose to remain with Home United, stating his hopes of representing Singapore internationally in the future. He also signed a two-year contract extension with the Singapore-based club. Song remained with the rebranded side, representing the club for the 2020 Singapore Premier League season.

During the 2021 season, Song was quick to express his delight at the influx of fresh talent, which he explained helped boost the quality and intensity of training sessions. However, the arrival of Lopes also meant he had to give up his number 10 shirt. Under new manager Kim Do-hoon, Song was part of the Lion City Sailors side that won the 2021 Singapore Premier League which qualified them for next season AFC Champions League group stage. He ended the season scoring 7 goals in 15 appearances.

In Song's first game of the 2022 season, he helped his side to win the 2022 Singapore Community Shield. He went on to score six goals and provided five assists in 31 appearances for the club. During the 2022 AFC Champions League group stage matches, Song scored a header from Maxime Lestienne's cross which resulted the Sailors to a 3–0 victory against K League 1 club Daegu FC. Against the Chinese club, Shandong Taishan, he scored a goal and provided a assist and was named 'Man of the Match'. In the reverse fixture against Daegu, Song scored a goal again but the Sailors eventually lost the match. In May, it was reported that Daegu and Suwon FC is interested in signing Song and had made an offer.

Song has scored 78 goals and provided 23 assists in 226 appearances across 12 seasons, leaving the Sailors as their all-time top goalscorer with 32 goals in all competitions.

Nongbua Pitchaya On 15 January 2023, it was announced that Song had left Lion City Sailors to move out of his “comfort zone” to pursue new challenges with Thai League 1 side Nongbua Pitchaya. On 18 August 2023, Song scored a rocket shot from outside the box scoring the only goal in the game against Liga 1 champions, PSM Makassar. His goal was voted as the 'Best Goal of the Week' for game week 9.

Return to Lion City Sailors After spending nearly a year playing his trade in Thailand and Indonesia, on 7 March 2024, Song returned to his former club Lion City Sailors, on a two-year contract in preparation for the 2024–25 Singapore Premier League season and the newly formed 2024–25 AFC Champions League Two campaign. He will don Number 15 which was his first number that he wore since he moved to Singapore back in 2011. On his official return to the club on 4 May 2024, Song helped his club to win the 2024 Singapore Community Shield in a 2–0 win against Albirex Niigata (S). On 23 June, Song scored his 80th goal in his 230th appearance for the club in a 7–1 thrashing league win over Albirex Niigata (S). On 5 December, Song scored a hat-trick where he also assisted Lennart Thy goal during the club's 5–2 victory against Thailand club Port helping Lion City Sailors to finish as Group F winners and advancing to the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League Two where scored 5 goals in six appearances in the AFC Champions League Two group stage. Despite Maxime Lestienne's equaliser in the 91st minute of the 2025 AFC Champions League Two final against Sharjah, the Sailors finished as a runner-up after conceding in the 97th minute to finish the game in a 1–2 defeat.

International career After receiving Singaporean citizenship, Song was called up to the Singapore national team on 27 August 2021.

On 11 November 2021, Song made his international debut in a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan. On 5 December 2021, Song made his competitive debut at the 2020 AFF Championship with a 3–0 victory against Myanmar. Song scored his first goal for Singapore in the second leg of the 2020 AFF Championship semi-final match against Indonesia.

Song scored the lead against Kyrgyzstan in the first game of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup third-round qualifiers before turning from hero to zero conceding the next two goals in three minutes sent Singapore to a narrow defeat. His third goal came in a 6–2 win over Myanmar in the final match of their qualifiers.

Song was called up for the 2022 AFF Championship. On 12 September 2023, Song scored a goal against Chinese Taipei in his return to the national team. Singapore won that game 3–1.

On 15 October 2025, Song scored a brace in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against India in Margao helping Singapore to a 2–1 win.

Style of play Initially deployed as a defensive midfielder by former Home United head coach Lee Lim-saeng, Song was placed in more offensive roles under Aidil Sharin Sahak, playing in a variety of positions as a box-to-box or attacking midfielder, winger, second striker and even as a poacher.

Personal life During an interview in 2016, Song shared his eagerness for representing Singapore internationally, which included having to naturalise as a Singaporean citizen in the process and renouncing his South Korean citizenship, as both Singapore and South Korea do not permit dual citizenship. Furthermore, he had met FIFA eligibility rules for foreign players planning to represent other national teams, as he has never represented South Korea internationally. A year later on 20 August 2021, Song formally became a Singaporean citizen, therefore making him eligible to represent Singapore. Song had relinquished his South Korean citizenship in the process.

In May 2024, Song married his long-time girlfriend in South Korea, where she resides.

Career statistics Club

International

Scores and results list Singapore's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Song goal.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition1. 25 December 2021 National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 1–1 2–4 2020 AFF Championship2. 8 June 2022 Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 1–0 1–2 2023 AFC Asian Cup qualification3. 14 June 2022 2–0 6–24. 12 September 2023 Bishan Stadium, Bishan, Singapore 1–1 3–1 Friendly5. 10 June 2025 National Stadium, Dhaka, Bangladesh 1–0 2–1 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification6. 14 October 2025 Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Margao, India 1–1 2–1 7. 2–1 8. 31 May 2026 Jalan Besar Stadium, Kallang, Singapore 2–0 4–0 Friendly9. 27 July 2026 2–0 2026 ASEAN Championship

Honours

Club Lion City Sailors AFC Champions League Two runner-up: 2024–25 Singapore Premier League: 2021, 2024–25; runner-up: 2013, 2018, Singapore Cup: 2013, 2024–25, 2025–26; runner-up: 2014, 2015 Singapore Community Shield: 2019, 2022, 2024; runner-up: 2025

Individual Singapore Premier League Team of the Year: 2018, 2020