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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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There are a lot of assignments.
Jeonbuk Hyundai's 2025 has a lot to accomplish. Among them, success in the Asian Champions League Two (ACL2) is of paramount importance.
Following the expansion and reorganization of the Asian Club competition, the ACL was divided into the top-ranked elite (ACLE) and the bottom-ranked ACL 2. Jeonbuk, which was ranked fourth in the K League 1 in 2023, took over the qualification as the Pohang Steelers won the FA Cup that year and went straight to ACLE as the second place in the K League 1.
Since the decision to play in ACL2, most people have been optimistic about Jeonbuk's success. The prevailing view was that the teams participating in other countries were one level below Jeonbuk in terms of power.
The ACL2 prize money is $3.82 million (about 5.4 billion won). It is no match for ACLE, which can hit a jackpot of 10 million dollars (about 14.3 billion won) when winning the championship, but it is a scale that cannot be ignored by the club. For Jeonbuk, which failed to play in the ACLE, which had been a star twice, winning the ACL2 was considered a stage to restore self-esteem and take advantage of the benefits.
When Jeonbuk defeated Cebu FC (Philippines, 6-0 win) and Muangtong United (Thailand, 4-1 win) in the first two games, this prediction seemed to be correct. However, Jeonbuk was caught 1-2 in an away match against Slangor FC (Malaysia). Since then, he has secured an early advance to the round of 16 with two consecutive wins, but he has no choice but to feel deeply that ACL2, which has to play in a different environment and climate than long-distance away games, is by no means an easy stage.
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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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The opponent of the round of 16 is Port FC (Thailand). In the Thai Premier League, where the season is in full swing, Port FC ranks third behind Buriram and Bangkok United. Unlike Jeonbuk, whose first round of 16 matches will be held at BG Stadium in Bangkok on February 12th, Port FC will face Jeonbuk at the peak of its performance.
Jeonbuk has switched to Gus Foyet's manager system ahead of this season. Although players are being reinforced through the winter transfer market, it is true that there is no dramatic change compared to last season. In a situation where they are not complete, they must play the round of 16, which will be an important key to the quarterfinals. This is why there is no guarantee that Jeonbuk will easily win.
Even if they reach the quarterfinals, the thorny road continues. Sydney FC - Bangkok United meet winner. Like Thailand, Sydney FC is fifth in the Australian A-League, which is in the middle of the season. Bangkok United is considered a stronger team than Port FC. Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan) is expected to advance to the semifinals, and the final match is a home-and-away showdown with the West Asian team.
Having gained extensive experience in Europe, Foye was considered a leader who would change Jeonbuk's style. However, after about a month of training after taking office, the eyes on whether he would be able to wear his color properly were mixed. The part of catching both rabbits, K League 1 and ACL 2, is also expected to be a significant burden.
After completing the first training schedule in Hua Hin, Thailand on the 23rd, the Jeonbuk team will move to Bangkok and focus on reviving their sense of play by focusing on the actual match until the 4th of next month. During this period, making a breakthrough in ACL2 is also expected to be an important task.
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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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| ◇photo courtesy of the Korea Professional Football Association |
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
