Editing Seol Ki-hyeon (section)

== Club career ==
=== Career in Belgium ===
In July 2000, Seol joined a Belgian club [[Royal Antwerp FC|Royal Antwerp]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://h21.hani.co.kr/arti/world/world_general/1422.html |script-title=ko:벨기에 찍고 빅리그 간다 |language=ko |publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]] |date=3 January 2001 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> He became the second South Korean footballer to score in double figures during a season in Europe, following [[Cha Bum-kun]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://football-tribe.com/korea/2017/12/11/%EC%B9%B4%EB%93%9C-%EB%89%B4%EC%8A%A4-%EC%9C%A0%EB%9F%BD-%EB%A6%AC%EA%B7%B8%EC%97%90%EC%84%9C-%EB%91%90-%EC%9E%90%EB%A6%BF%EC%88%98-%EB%93%9D%EC%A0%90%EC%9D%98-%EA%B8%88%EC%9E%90%ED%83%91%EC%9D%84/4/ |script-title=ko:[카드 뉴스] 유럽 리그에서 두 자릿수 득점의 금자탑을 쌓은 한국 선수들 |language=ko |date=11 December 2017 |publisher=Football Tribe |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> After a successful season with Royal Antwerp, Seol moved to [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] in the same league. He scored a hat-trick in the space of 12 minutes in the [[2001 Belgian Super Cup]].<ref name="Seol2">{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129100030/http://www.hbvl.be/cnt/oid142279/archief-anderlecht-pakt-supercup |url=http://www.hbvl.be/cnt/oid142279/archief-anderlecht-pakt-supercup |title=Anderlecht pakt Supercup |language=nl |publisher=Het Belang van Limburg |date=4 August 2001 |archive-date=29 November 2017 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> He also became the first South Korean player to score in the qualifying round of the [[UEFA Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/sports/soccer/139319.html |script-title=ko:설기현, 험난했던 영국 프리미어리그 입성 |language=ko |publisher=[[The Hankyoreh]] |date=7 July 2006 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> He won the [[2003–04 Belgian First Division]] with Anderlecht.<ref name="Seol3">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesb/belg04.html |title=Belgium 2003/04 |first=Luc |last=Nackaerts |date=26 January 2005 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

=== Wolverhampton Wanderers ===
In August 2004, Seol moved to England, joining a [[Football League Championship|Championship]] club [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].<ref name="Seol1">{{cite web |url=https://news.joins.com/article/2491217 |script-title=ko:울버햄튼의 영원한 기억…'쎄올(Seol)' |language=ko |publisher=[[JoongAng Ilbo]] |date=30 October 2006 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref> The Wolverhampton manager at the time, [[Glenn Hoddle]], preferred Seol as one of his first-choice forwards,<ref name="Seol1"/> using him in various roles such as striker, attacking midfielder and winger.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/01/21/2005012170143.html |script-title=ko:울버햄튼 감독, "설기현 최고 멀티플레이어" 극찬 |language=ko |publisher=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=21 January 2005 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

Disappointed by the failure of Wolves' promotion, Seol sought Premier League clubs interested in him before the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]] despite having two years left on his contract. He was reported as saying "At this stage, I'm frustrated not to be in the Premiership. I think there will be some good news after the World Cup."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/06/20/200606200025.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622001929/http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/site/data/html_dir/2006/06/20/200606200025.asp |archive-date=22 June 2006 |title=Seol Ki-hyun looking to Premier League |publisher=[[The Korea Herald]] |date=20 July 2006 |access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref>

===Reading===
Seol eventually joined newly promoted Premier League club [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] on 12 July 2006 for a reported transfer fee of £1.5 million.<ref name="fulham">{{cite news |title=Coppell reveals Seol exit reason |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/reading/6988706.stm |access-date=27 September 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=11 September 2007}}</ref> He was voted the Reading Player of the Month for August by fans after showing great performances early in the season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Seol voted as Reading player of the month |date=6 September 2006 |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/20680/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131231234419/http://www.the-afc.com/en/media-releases/20680/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2013 |publisher=AFC |access-date=31 December 2013}}</ref> On 16 September 2006, he scored his first Premiership goal in a 2–1 win over [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Utd 1–2 Reading |date=16 September 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5330044.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 April 2007 |location=London |first=Sarah |last=Holt}}</ref> On 1 October 2006, he scored his second goal for Reading in a 1–0 win over West Ham United.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Ham 0–1 Reading |date=1 October 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/5373482.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 April 2007 |location=London |first=Dan |last=Warren}}</ref> His third goal for Reading, his first at home, came on 18 November 2006 in the 2–0 win against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Reading 2–0 Charlton |date=18 November 2006 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/6138910.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=27 April 2007 |location=London}}</ref> However, his performance was not consistently kept during the rest of the season. He scored his fourth goal in the last game of the season against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]].

===Fulham===
Seol left Reading for Fulham on 31 August 2007 for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract, with [[Liam Rosenior]] going the other way.<ref name="fulham"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10306~1103805,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415131858/http://www.readingfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10306~1103805%2C00.html |archive-date=15 April 2012 |title=Rosenior signs as Seol departs |publisher=Reading |date=1 September 2007 |access-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Reading boss [[Steve Coppell]] admitted that strained relations between him and Seol led to the move.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 September 2007 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/reading/6988706.stm |title=Coppell reveals Seol exit reason |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=13 September 2007 |location=London}}</ref>

After his manager [[Lawrie Sanchez]] was replaced by [[Roy Hodgson]], Seol wasn't chosen as Hodgson's player during the rest of the season. He scored his first goal for Fulham in a 2–1 defeat to [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] on 16 August 2008,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7551167.stm |title=Hull City 2–1 Fulham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2008 |access-date=14 September 2009 |location=London |first=John |last=May}}</ref> but he still didn't show something special the next season. On 14 January 2009, he signed an initial six-month loan move to [[Al Hilal SFC|Al-Hilal]] in Saudi Arabia with a view to moving permanently.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2009/01/136_37836.html |title=Seol Moves to Saudi Club |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=3 June 2020 |publisher=[[The Korea Times]]}}</ref> However, he stated that he desired to stay at Fulham to win his place in the squad at the end of his loan deal.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/5403353/ |publisher=Sky Sports |title=Seol to return to Fulham |date=27 June 2009 |access-date=3 June 2020}}</ref>

Seol scored his second goal for the club in a Europa League qualifier against [[FK Vėtra]] on 30 July 2009, but he failed to made a twist for his status.<ref>{{cite news 
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/8175041.stm |title=FK Vetra 0–3 Fulham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=30 July 2009 |access-date=20 April 2010}}</ref> On 15 January 2010, It was announced that his contract with Fulham was cancelled by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/January/SeolDeparts.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100117215232/http://www.fulhamfc.com/Club/News/NewsArticles/2010/January/SeolDeparts.aspx |archive-date=17 January 2010 |title=Best Of Luck |publisher=Fulham |date=15 January 2010 |access-date=31 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Retirement===
Seol played for [[Pohang Steelers]], [[Ulsan Hyundai FC|Ulsan Hyundai]], and [[Incheon United FC|Incheon United]] in the [[K League]] after leaving Fulham. During his K League career, he was criticised for poor communication with clubs and fans about his future.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=047&aid=0002082780 |script-title=ko:인천 간판스타 설기현, 이런 은퇴는 씁쓸 |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[OhmyNews]] |date=2015-03-04 |language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://sports.news.naver.com/news.nhn?oid=047&aid=0002122827 |script-title=ko:논란의 이적, 축구계 배신의 아이콘은 누구? |website=[[Naver]] |publisher=[[OhmyNews]] |date=2016-08-01 |language=ko}}</ref> He announced his retirement on 2 March 2015 in order to become the interim manager of [[Sungkyunkwan University]]. His retirement ceremony took place in a friendly match between South Korea and [[Jamaica national football team|Jamaica]] on 13 October 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ko:'은퇴' 설기현 "모든 분들께 감사하다, 좋은 지도자 되겠다" |url=http://www.xportsnews.com/jsports/?ac=article_view&entry_id=645956&_REFERER=http%253A%252F%252Fsports.news.naver.com%252Fsports%252Findex.nhn%253Fcategory%253Dsoccer%2526ctg%253Dnews%2526mod%253Dread%2526office_id%253D311%2526article_id%253D0000530814 |publisher=Xportsnews |language=ko |access-date=13 October 2015}}</ref>