K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.
Some K League players are so synonymous with their current clubs that it is hard to imagine them playing for another team. Some even played for their current team's rivals. The next instalment in this new series Changing Allegiances takes a look at some more well-known K League stars and the other clubs they represented once upon a time.
Experienced right-back Shin Kwang-hoon has played for five K League clubs including the two separate spells with his current club, Pohang Steelers. But, it might be easy to forget that Shin had a spell with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2008. The 34-year-old, then 21, spent two years out on loan with the Green Warriors, making 54 appearances, laying on four assists and scoring once - a consolation goal in a 3-1 K League Cup loss to Jeonnam Dragons in 2008. He won the K League title with Jeonbuk in 2009 before returning to parent club Pohang midway through the 2010 campaign. Shin won another K League title with Pohang as well as two FA Cups and also has a K League 2 title winners medal in his collection having helped Ansan win the second tier title in 2016. A spell at FC Seoul followed, then Gangwon but Shin is now with Pohang again and is heading into his 16th season as a professional.
K League Club History: Pohang Steelers, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan), Ansan Police, FC Seoul, Gangwon FC
K League Apps: 385
Goals: 8
Assists: 21
Shin Kwang-hoon's Pohang Steelers teammate Lee Seung-mo received continent-wide attention for his goal-scoring exploits in the Steelers' run to the ACL Final last year. But, before he was being asked to play as a makeshift centre forward, Lee went out on loan to Gwangju in 2018 to learn his trade as a central midfielder. Wearing the number 37 shirt, Lee was part of what was then Park Jin-sub's team which reached the 2018 K League 2 Playoffs. Lee made nine appearances after joining in the summer of that year, scored once - the equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Busan IPark, and laid on one assist. Lee had to wait a while before breaking into the Pohang starting lineup but is now seen as an important first-team player.
K League Club History: Pohang Steelers, Gwangju FC (loan)
K League Apps: 70
Goals: 4
Assists: 5
[READ: Changing Allegiances: Joo Min-kyu, Ahn Hyun-beom, Noh Dong-geon, Lee Ki-je]
Another player with a Pohang and Gwangju connection is winger Kim Ho-nam. Kim is well-travelled in K League having played for seven K League clubs. But his K League career began with Gwangju FC back in 2011 after signing from J.League club Sagan Tosu. Kim spent five years with Gwangju, making exactly 100 appearances, scoring 28 goals and laying on seven assists. A transfer to Jeju United followed in 2015 before spells with Sangju Sangmu (military service), Incheon United, Suwon FC, Pohang Steelers, and now Bucheon FC 1995 for whom he has signed ahead of the 2022 season.
K League Club History: Gwangju FC, Jeju United, Sangmu Sangmu (loan), Incheon United, Suwon FC, Pohang Steelers, Bucheon FC 1995
K League Apps: 247
Goals: 46
Assists: 13
Yun Suk-young has experience playing in England, Japan, and Denmark but his career began in the south of South Korea with Jeonnam Dragons. The left-back signed professional terms with the Dragons in 2009 and over a three-year period made 95 appearances, the most out of any club he has represented in his career so far, scored four and assisted five. In January 2013 Yun joined Queens Park Rangers to embark on a career in Europe that would take him to Doncaster, Charlton, Brondby, and then Kashiwa Reysol in Japan. A loan to FC Seoul in 2018 brought Yun back to K League. Since then, the 31-year-old has had spells with Busan IPark and now Gangwon FC for what is actually a second spell with the club.
K League Club History: Jeonnam Dragons, FC Seoul (loan), Busan IPark, Gangwon FC
K League Apps: 170
Goals: 6
Assists: 10
[READ: Changing Allegiances: Han Kyo-won, Kim Tae-hwan, Yun Il-lok, Lee Keun-ho]
Paul Neat
Managing Editor
