Attacking midfielder Bruno Lapa is no stranger to travel. The Brazilian left home as a teenager to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional in the US. In January, he packed his bags again and moved across the Pacific Ocean to Ansan. Here is his story.
Amid a particularly bitter Korean winter, a player from Brazil named Bruno Felipe Serbena Lapa signed for the then-K League 2 whipping boys, Ansan Greeners. While still in his teens, Lapa left the Atletico Paranaense U20 side to join Montverde Academy in Florida. He spent the next decade in America before making the giant leap across the world to Korea’s second tier.
Lapa’s path is somewhat unique. There are dozens of Brazilians in Korea, but the vast majority are plucked from the lower tiers in their homeland. By the time the attacking midfielder had arrived in Ansan, a city west of Seoul, he had spent most of his entire adult life living in America. Some players would balk at the thought of moving to Wa~ Stadium, but the engaging Brazilian has no regrets.
“It’s a great opportunity to be in Korea,” Lapa assured me in English. He isn’t the only Brazilian who can hold an interview in English without the help of an interpreter, but it is debatable whether any can converse the way he can. And that, naturally, makes for a more interesting discussion.
Perhaps enhancing the Korean experience is Ansan’s continued improvement on the field, up until mid-July. Friday’s frustrating loss at home to Chungnam Asan dropped the Greeners down to 13th, one point above Cheonan City. They’ve lost four straight, having reached the dizzying heights of 11th. It sounds crazy to say it now, but some Ansan fans were whispering about a potential play-off surge before the wheels came off.
This year, like most years, K League 2 is remarkably competitive, except at the summit. Incheon United have kept all their challengers at arm’s length, including Suwon Bluewings, who are currently well clear of their rivals for second. However, the battle for one of the three remaining playoff spots will likely go down to the final weekend. Gimpo FC are the hottest team right now, and they’re still outside the top five. Realistically, it is three from seven who’ll reach the playoffs. Hwaseong, in 10th, are too far adrift to mount a challenge.
Lapa has been impressed with the quality in this division since he arrived. “I do think it’s a very fast-paced league,” he remarks in the Ansan Wa~ mixed zone. “K League 2 is very physical and very disciplined. I think all the clubs are very organized, and you know, they really pride themselves on their tactics and organization. So you have to be really aware of that coming in, and especially as somebody coming in from abroad. You try to adjust as fast as you can to the style of the coach and the style of the game.”
Interestingly, Lapa believes “there is not a lot of space on the ball” and to succeed in Korea, “you definitely have to be aware of your touches and be technically sharp. Overall, I’m enjoying it. It’s been good. I’ve definitely improved as a player and as a person by coming to a country like Korea and soaking in the culture. I am happy with how Ansan and the fans and everybody here have treated me since I got here, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Lapa takes on Gimpo FC in Wa¬ Stadium.
As a keen student of the game, I asked Lapa if he sees much variation in the style of play. Fans of clubs criticize their team’s tactics every week. What’s funny is they often share the same opinions as fans of rival clubs, equally disillusioned. “Yeah, I do think that there’s a certain standard tactic that the teams in Korea have. They play with three at the back and two midfielders. However, you can see some adjustments according to how the game’s going or if you’re playing away, if you’re playing at home, or if you are trying to push the game or not.”
Lapa compares the division to “a game of chess with teams trying to beat others with a slight adjustment to the tactics because games end up being very similar in the league. A little bit of detail can make a difference. Or one mistake or one set piece can win games. We lost a few games on set pieces because games end up being so even. So, yeah, those little adjustments really help. Especially for us, we try to change a few things here and there, according to who we’re playing against. So yeah, I do think that.”
The Brazilian is also enjoying the incredible diversity in football stadiums currently used in the division. From a World Cup Stadium in Suwon, to football-specific grounds in Incheon, Gwangyang, Gimpo, and Changwon, to large municipal stadiums such as his own home, Ansan Wa~ Stadium, the variety is fascinating. “It’s intriguing because a lot of stadiums are so big, and being part of maybe the World Cup back in 2002. We have such a big stadium with a track around it in Ansan, you kind of need that close feeling with the fans, and some clubs here in Korea, they have the stands close to the pitch, which for me is good.”
Even though he loves playing at home, he still believes ” you need to feel the heat of the game” and to “almost interact with fans mid-game.” Ansan lacks this, but they have constructed a small temporary stand behind one of the goals. “It’s interesting to see how each club adjusts and put in temporary stands, close to the field. America is also different because you’re playing in cities where, up north, it is so cold that you have to play on turf, and you have some turf stadiums. Then you have some baseball stadiums there that were adjusted for soccer games, and even have proper soccer stadiums. I think playing in the US was good preparation for me coming here to Korea.”
Fan culture is important in Korea, and the 28-year-old is loving the atmosphere. “I think Koreans are fascinated with the game. They’re in love with the game, and they are very passionate about the team they support. It’s nice to see that each weekend in the stadiums, the fans come in and they support and they sing. You feel a proper atmosphere, and obviously playing Suwon and Incheon, with the big fan bases, is always exciting with a louder environment. It’s exciting. It’s good for us. I think the first game of the season, we played Suwon right away, and the stadium was loud, and I think that was a good start to the league.”
Lapa on the opening weekend against Suwon Bluewings and their loud fans.
The Greeners travel to Gwangyang this Saturday to face Jeonnam Dragons. This is one of the very fewproper journeys the club must undertake, at 340 km stadium to stadium. Lapa admits “that’s one of the things that I talk about with my teammates or people that I know from back in America and even my family, I said it’s so nice because I’m used to traveling for like 5-6-7 hours a day before. Sometimes getting a flight. Here in Korea, you just have a 30-45 minute drive the day before and then spend the whole day in the hotel and rest. And after the game, quickly back home.”
Ansan’s three previous away games have been to provincial neighbors, Gimpo, Incheon, and Suwon. “It’s something that’s definitely a plus here. You don’t fly at all. You just take a bus or get a train, because everything is just so close. I think it saves your legs, it saves your body. If you’re going from California to Florida, you spend 8 hours flying or getting connections or whatnot the day after the game, and you can’t get some proper sleep. I’m very excited to continue to just get into more cities in Korea. And definitely, I’m happy that we won’t have to travel so far.”
Ansan’s final three away games in 2025 will be in Cheonan, Bucheon, and Seoul. Three cities, but a combined travel distance of less than 100 km. For players and fans, this really is a beautiful situation.
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