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| photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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Director Lee Jung-hyo ordering the operation
(Gwangju=Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Nam-soo = K League 1 Gwangju FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai held at Gwangju Football Stadium on the 24th. Gwangju FC manager Lee Jung-hyo is directing the operation. 2024.11.24
iso64@yna.co.kr
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Gwangju coach Lee Jung-hyo looked back on the 2024 season, which was like a roller coaster.
Coach Lee was dragged by giving up the first goal to Thiago in the 29th minute of the second half in a 38th round home game against Jeonbuk 'Hana Bank K League 1 2024' held at Gwangju Football Stadium on the 24th, before drawing 1-1 with Shin Chang-moo's penalty equalizer in the 2nd minute of extra time in the second half. Gwangju, which earned 1 point, finished the season in 9th place by giving up 8th place to Daejeon (43 points), which beat Jeju 2-1 at the same time with 42 final points.
Asked to give a general review of the season at a press conference after the game, coach Lee said, `At first, I started looking at the championship. I had high expectations. My goal was to win more than 18 games, but I'm sorry I couldn't achieve my goal. There were a lot of parts that were not recruited in the summer. He replied, "I couldn't recruit him, but it was very difficult as Um Ji-sung transferred to the team."
Defender Byun Jun-su said, `I really thought we were going to win at the beginning of the season. I stayed, but it's true that I'm disappointed.
Lee Jung-hyo, who became a K-League sensation last season, led the game by beating Seoul and Gangwon one after another after the opening of the 2024 season. However, after suffering a slump of losing six consecutive games from round 3 to round 8, he had a rollercoaster-like season of repeating wins and losses, and eventually failed to advance to Final A.
In the summer transfer market, which needs to rebound, the Korean Professional Football Federation violated the Korean-style fiscal consolidation system (FFP) prepared last year and was banned from recruiting players. Even if a large number of injuries occurred, resources could not be prepared to replace them.
Manager Lee, who led Gwangju's stay and the Asian Champions League sensation after overcoming negative factors such as the silence of strikers and the long-term injury of main fullback Doo Hyun-seok, said, `I don't think it was a failure if Gwangju stayed in the K League 1 last year or last year", he commented.
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Cheering Gwangju FC supporters
(Gwangju=Yonhap News) Reporter Cho Nam-soo = The K League 1 match between Gwangju FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai held at Gwangju Football Stadium on the 24th. Gwangju FC supporters are cheering. 2024.11.24
iso64@yna.co.kr
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"It's always a test for an inexperienced and unnamed coach like me," Lee said at the opening media day. But aren't other K-League coaches also tested. It's the same. I'll make it a test" he once expressed his bold ambition. In response to this "I think I'm very conceited`. "Next year, I and all the coaches will be put to the test. I will prepare better for the examination."
Gwangju will also be put to the test in the 2025 season. Currently, 10 people from Gwangju are said to have submitted applications to join Gimcheon Sangmu. Mainstay Jung Ho-yeon, Heo Yul and Asani are receiving love calls from various places, so we cannot guarantee that they will remain. Manager Lee said "If I joined Gimcheon this winter, it could have been convenient to build a squad, but as the announcement was delayed to March next year, I think many K-League teams, including us, will be worried. I will put my head together with the club and discuss the composition of the squad."
Coach Lee said he saw 'Possibility' in the final game that he did not win. "I'm glad I didn't lose to Jeonbuk." He clearly showed us what kind of soccer we're going to play next year." As for Doo Hyun-suk, who is scheduled to say goodbye to Gwangju for a while after this game and work as a public service worker, "He is a player with good skills as seen in today's game. At the beginning of the season, he was in bad condition due to the stress of military problems, and he was also injured, so he struggled a lot. I played my last K-League game, and I think I showed my skills to a lot of fans today."
Doo Hyun-suk, who returned to the ground for the first time in about 100 days since July, said "It's a pity to look back on the season. I'm sorry I couldn't be of much help to the team, and I'm sorry I couldn't play with my teammates in the Asian Champions League. I will come back to Gwangju after serving in the military."
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
