What qualifies as Year of the Tiger?
To be classed as being born in a certain Zodiac year, a person has to be born after 'ipchun' in the Lunar calendar which translates to the "onset of spring" and falls on February 4th each year. The Lunar Year, in terms of what decides your Zodiac sigh, runs until February 3rd the following year. So, qualifying birth dates for players in the K League 'Year of the Tiger XI' are February 4th 1998 to February 3rd 1999 and February 4th 1986 to February 3rd 1987. The birthdays of Lee Seung-woo and Cho Gue-sung both fall out of this time period but there have been some articles about how they are Year of the Tiger and so have been included.
How does voting work?
Voting will begin at 12:00 noon KST on Saturday 5th February 2022 and will last for 24 hours, the final XI will then be announced on KLeague.com on Sunday 6th February 2022. Four players maximum enter the voting for each position but wingers are categorised as one group and the top two will be selected. The team will be set up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Who's the manager?
Jeju United boss Nam Ki-il will lead the team as he was born in 1974, another Year of the Tiger.
Preliminary Squad
Goalkeepers
Kim Keun-bae (August 1986, Gimpo FC)
Lee Jun-seo (March 1998, Daejeon Hana Citizen)
Yoo Yeon-soo (August 1998, Jeju United)
Cho Sung-hun (April 1998, Pohang Steelers)
Centre Backs
Kim Jae-woo (February 6th 1998, Daejeon Hana Citizen)
Kang Min-su (February 14th 1986, Incheon United)
Choi Ji-muk (October 1998, Seongnam FC)
Lee Jung-moon (March 1998, Jeju United)
Right backs
Lee Yong (December 1986, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Yoon Jong-gyu (March 1998, FC Seoul)
Park Dae-won (February 25th 1998, Suwon Samsung Bluewings)
Hwang Tae-hyeon (January 29th 1999, Seoul E-Land)
Left backs
Kim Kin-ya (1998, FC Seoul)
Seol Young-woo (1998, Ulsan Hyundai)
Park Joo-ho (January 16th 1987, Suwon FC)
Central midfielders
Shin Hyung-min (July 1986, Ulsan Hyundai)
Lee Yong-rae (April 1986, Daegu FC)
Lee Seung-mo (March 1998, Pohang Steelers)
Maeng Seong-ung (February 4th 1998, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors)
Wingers
Kim In-gyun (July 1998, Daejeon Hana Citizen)
Lee Sang-heon (February 26th 1998, Busan IPark)
Jung Ji-yong (December 1998, Gangwon FC)
Um Won-sang (January 6th 1999, Gwangju FC)
Strikers
Lee Seung-woo (1998, Suwon FC)
Cho Gue-sung (January 1998, Gimcheon Sangmu)
Yang Dong-hyen (March 1986, Suwon FC)
Edgar Silva (January 3rd 1999 Daegu FC)
