K LEAGUE

K LEAGUE

  • K LEAGUE
  • K LEAGUE
  • 울산>
  • 광주>
  • 포항>
  • 김천>
  • 수원FC>
  • 제주>
  • 서울>
  • 강원>
  • 인천>
  • 대전>
  • 전북>
  • 대구>
  • 충북청주>
  • 서울E>
  • 수원>
  • 천안>
  • 충남아산>
  • 안양>
  • 부천>
  • 전남>
  • 안산>
  • 부산>
  • 경남>
  • 김포>
  • 성남>

뉴스

K리그1・2의 최신 소식을 모두 확인 할 수 있는 공간입니다.

2021 Hana 1Q K League 2 Season Preview

league 2021.02.20   I   조회수 651

With most teams in the division hoping for promotion, it is set to be another fiercely competitive Hana 1Q K League 2 campaign. The writers of K League United look ahead to the 2021 season. 

Ansan Greeners

2020: 7th | Manager: Kim Gil-sik  | Home Stadium: Ansan Wa~ Stadium

2020 will be looked on by many as a year to forget, and for Ansan fans, this was a season that at first glance can be simply consigned to the history books. Yet an unremarkable 7th place finish is solid progress for a club completing only its fourth season as a professional outfit. Hwang Tae-hyun's departure to Daegu was a bit of a blow for Ansan fans who had, for a time, been able to have one of Korea's hottest properties in their starting line-up. However it set down a marker that players turning out in the green of Ansan can go far.

Ansan signed 21-year old Indonesian international defender Asnawi Mangkualam from Liga 1 side PSM Makassar. Despite his age, he quickly established himself in a competitive side that had lifted the title in 2018, and a domestic cup in 2019. Meanwhile, with five goals last season, Kim Ryun-do was Ansan's top scorer, and he will be expected to kick on this season and lead Ansan's line with more goals. It can be argued that Ansan have now managed to establish themselves in K League 2, with an average finish of around 8th and after the exploits of Seoul E-land last season providing inspiration for the lower end of the table, there is potential for Ansan to improve on last season’s finish. 

- Mike Brandon

FC Anyang

2020: 9th | Manager: Lee Woo-hyung | Home Stadium: Ansan Civic Stadium 

New boss Lee Woo-hyung will hope to better the club’s ninth place finish last season, which laid in contrast to their playoff run of 2019. FC Anyang claimed just two home league victories in 2020 but did enjoy success on the road at rivals Ansan Greeners. Forward Maxwell Acosty stood out in his debut season, netting seven goals, while Nilson Junior won the most defensive duels in the division.

Centre back Baek Dong-gyu returns to the club from Jeju United, while Anyang have managed to keep hold of promising midfielder Maeng Seung-ung and K League stalwart Nilson. Midfielder Joo Hyun-woo will captain the Violets this season having been dependable since his move from Seongnam FC, while new signing Jonathan has been handed the number nine shirt having enjoyed a prolific spell in his native Costa Rica.

- Peter Hampshire

Bucheon FC 1995

2020: 8th | Manager: Lee Young-min | Home Stadium: Bucheon Stadium

Bucheon's 8th place finish in the 2020 campaign has led to a large turnover of staff, with ex-Anyang gaffer Lee Young-min being brought in as manager and many players coming and going. The club has kept several of their best performing players, such as new captain Cho Soo-chul and potential Olympic team candidate Kim Kang-san, but most of their stars from last year have departed. William Barbio has moved to Seoul E-Land, Kim Young-chan has transferred to Gyeongnam, while Lee Hyun-il has made the step up to Pohang Steelers. 

To counteract these departures, Bucheon have signed multiple new players. One of the most notable is Busan legend Han Ji-ho moving to Gyeonggi Province on a free transfer after a decade spent with the south coast club. Bucheon have also signed their first ever Japanese player, midfielder Wataru Murofushi, from Canadian Premier League club York United. In the summer Bucheon should also receive a boost from midfielder Ahn Tae-hyun and goalkeeper Choi Chul-won returning from their national service at Gimcheon Sangmu. The previous two seasons have demonstrated that Bucheon can fluctuate between contending for promotion or flirting with the wooden spoon. 

- George Slade

Busan IPark

2020: 12th (K League 1) | Manager: Ricardo Peres | Home Stadium: Gudeok Stadium

Relegated to K League 2 after a season in the top flight, Busan IPark look set to enter a new era with an exciting young squad, led by innovative Portuguese coach Ricardo Peres. After the departure of several youth academy products including Korean internationals Lee Dong-jun and Kim Moon-hwan, Busan must now develop a new generation of talent. With six Korean youth internationals at his disposal, including talented marksman Park Jeong-in and mercurial midfielder Kim Jin-kyu, Peres is well equipped with tools that could help him develop the side into title contenders. These youngsters will be supported by proven talent at this level, with Cypriot international defender Valentinos Sielis and the reigning K League 2 MVP An Byong-jun.

- Todd Wilde


Chungnam Asan

2020: 10th | Manager: Park Dong-hyuk  | Home Stadium: Yi Sun-sin Stadium

Chungnam Asan finished last season at the foot of the K League 2 table following their first season as a citizen club. There have been some changes at the club this off-season as their foreign signings of a year ago, Armin Mujakić and Philip Hellquist are both gone. A pair of new signings could prove beneficial to the team’s chances in 2021. The additions of Matheus Alves and Alex Sandro should give the Owls some much needed pace in attack.

Lee Jae-gun will be a key player for Asan this year. He was one of the better performers last season in a side that mostly struggled over long stretches. It will be important for the club’s new number ten to get off to a good start if Asan are going to avoid the same fate as a season ago. Positive results in the early going could give them the boost of confidence they need to get off to the right start. 

- Branko Belan

Daejeon Hana Citizen

2020: 4th | Manager: Lee Min-sung | Home Stadium: Daejeon World Cup Stadium

After falling short in the playoffs last year, Daejeon Hana Citizen will be keen to go one better in 2021. Daejeon will be led by former Korean international midfielder Lee Min-sung who takes up his first K League managerial position after departing the Korea U23 setup. The Purples have brought in some notable new faces such as AFC Champions League-winning centre back Kim Min-duk from Ulsan Hyundai, Asian Games gold medalist Lee Jin-hyun from Daegu FC and "super sub" Won Ki-jong from Seoul E-Land. And with a fully fit Bruno Baio up front and and Kim Dong-jun in between the sticks, Daejeon will be seen as one of the front runners for promotion.

- Paul Neat

Gimcheon Sangmu

2020: 4th (K League 1) | Manager: Kim Tae-wan | Home Stadium: Gimcheon Civic Stadium

Despite finishing fourth in the K League 1 in 2020 – the team’s highest ever finish – the military side were relegated due to their relocation to Gimcheon and subsequent re-branding. A team that recorded eight 1-0 wins in 2020, Gimcheon are considered one of the best-drilled outfits in the K League, and keeping hold of manager Kim Tae-wan could be the team’s most important move of the off-season. 

An already impressive squad will be bolstered in March by the arrivals of 14 new players, including Jeonbuk forward Cho Gue-sung, Daegu keeper Gu Sung-yun, and Ulsan centre back Jung Seung-hyun. Kim Tae-wan’s shrewd squad management should ensure a smooth transition as several key players depart in June, including Kwon Kyung-won, Moon Seon-min, and Oh Se-hun. Despite the enforced changes, Gimcheon have incredible strength in depth, and under Kim’s leadership they look set to be the second tier’s team to beat. 

- Tom Marcantonio

Gyeongnam FC

2020: 3rd | Manager: Seol Ki-hyeon | Home Stadium: Changwon Football Center

Gyeongnam FC go into the 2021 campaign with only one thing high on manager Seol Ki-hyeon’s agenda - gaining promotion into K League 1. Seol has been busy in pre-season, with the squad having two training camps, one in Tongyong and in Namhae. New signings Willyan and Hernandes have arrived from Gwangju and Jeonnam Dragons and have been embedded into the squad extremely well. The spine of the team is still intact and some considerable strong domestic signings were made such as striker Lee Jeong-hyeop signed from neighbours Busan IPark and midfielder Lim Min-hyeok from Gwangju FC. There is no doubt Gyeongnam will hope their good business with have the desired effect with positive results on the pitch.  

- James Edrupt

Jeonnam Dragons

2020: 6th | Manager: Jeon Kyung-jun | Home Stadium: Gwangyang Football Stadium

Jeonnam Dragons agonizingly missed out of the playoff places by one-point last season, and manager Jeon Kyung-jun has been working hard to build a squad that can go that one step further in the 2021 season, and challenge with early favorites Gyeongnam and Gimcheon. Plenty of change is underfoot with wholesale changes throughout the squad such as Kim Ju-won and top scorer Julian Kristoffersen leaving the club, with fan favorite Lee Jong-ho being made captain. Proven striker Samuel Nnamani has been brought in from Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna to address the lack of goals last season. If the goals can be addressed this season, then the Dragons look to be a tough team to beat. 

- Joshua Higgins

Seoul E-Land

2020: 5th | Manager: Chung Jung-yong | Home Stadium: Seoul Olympic Stadium

Seoul E-Land have had the winter to brush off the dust from their heart-breaking end to the 2020 K League 2 season. The capital club have heavily invested once more and strengthened the squad with players like Jang Yun-ho and Ko Jae-hyun staying for one more year. Both players had impressive seasons for the Leopards last year and fans are glad to see them return. Seoul also bring in William Barbio from Bucheon FC 1995 and Nicholas Benegas. Seoul have a South American flair this year with two Brazilian players, and one Argentine. 

Seoul will look to Leandro to bring the spirit and the goals to the side this year, with captain Kim Min-kyun leading the team for another season. Seoul will look to better themselves in 2021 and reach at least a playoff spot. That is easier said than done, however, as other clubs around them have also invested wisely. Manager Chung Jung-yong has now had a full year at the club and his tactics and ethos are really starting to come to fruition. Seoul fans will hope for another big season in the capital and further prove that the dark days of lower end of the table football is far, far behind them.

- Michael Redmond


K LEAGUE