*This content was translated by AI.
The preparation process for the new season of the professional soccer K League 1 Daejeon Hana Citizen is unusual. While "defending champion" Jeonbuk Hyundai and Ulsan HD, which achieved three consecutive losses from 2022, are going through "upheaval" side by side, only last season's runner-up Daejeon is focusing on strengthening its power without any change in the head coach. Although it is still early, interest and expectations are growing as to whether the "non-modern" team will be able to become the first winner in 10 years since 2016.
First of all, there is a strong wind of change in other competing teams. Even Jeonbuk, the winner of last season, changed its head coach, with Gus Foye leaving and Chung Jung-yong taking the helm. The break-up with the championship players such as Hong Jung-ho and Song Min-gyu has been confirmed, and even Park Jin-seop, who was the captain and MVP candidate, is rumored to be transferred. Of course, the weight of players who are rumored to be recruited, such as Mota, Auberdan and Kim Seung-seop and Byun Jun-su, is also daunting. However, the fact that there are not a few changes from the coaching staff to the team immediately after winning the championship could be a variable for the new season.
Ulsan, which barely stayed last season and lost its pride after a three-game losing streak, is also experiencing upheaval. Last season alone, he suffered from measles in which the coach changed twice, and the main players are leaving, centering on veterans. Kim Hyun-seok, a former club legend, took the helm to deal with the faltering team atmosphere, but as the Jeonnam Dragons broke up after a year due to their failure to advance to the K League 2 playoffs (PO) last season, there are no choice but to question their leadership, including tactics. Like Jeonbuk, Ulsan's key is how fast it gets on a stable track amid considerable changes.
On the other hand, Daejeon, the runner-up team in the K League 2 last season, is in a different situation. Unlike the previous two teams, head coach Hwang Sun-hong is preparing for the new season in a continuous manner by taking the helm this season following last season. Among the players who left the team, there is no departure that can be classified as a main player. Rather, on the 2nd, he began to strengthen his power by recruiting Um Won-sang and Rubik'sson (Sweden), "a former national team player" who played in Ulsan at the same time. As massive power reinforcement has been taking place in recent years amid the support of the parent company, attention will inevitably be paid to the transfer market, which has just begun.
As he finished second last season, his performance is so solid. Current national team members such as Kim Moon-hwan and Lee Myung-jae, who are likely to participate in the World Cup, as well as Lee Soon-min, Kim Bong-soo, residents, and Lee Chang-geun. There are only positive factors in the preparation process, such as the addition of new key players. In the end, Hwang Sun-hong-ho Daejeon, which has less change compared to other competitive teams that need "time," is preparing for the new season with a clear advantage.
Moreover, Daejeon already had a 'winning race' last season. He took the lead in early March and led for more than two months until mid-May. Since the middle of the season, he has lost strength and Jeonbuk's full-fledged dominance has combined, falling behind to fourth place at one point, but eventually rose to second place to finish the season. The trial and error experienced last season can support the race of the new season with experience.
Of course, there are many variables. Coach Chung Jeong-yong, who took the helm of Jeonbuk, has already been proven to lead Gimcheon Sangmu in third place for two consecutive seasons. There are not a few departures from winning members, but the gap can be filled with outstanding players. Just as Jeonbuk reached the top the following year when the promotion PO fell, Ulsan may rebound quickly with its national team-level power if the atmosphere is quickly settled. There may be more teams to compete for the championship, including FC Seoul, led by head coach Kim Ki-dong.
However, compared to other teams, there can be no disagreement that Daejeon, the "quasi-winning team," is preparing for the new season in the most stable atmosphere. Furthermore, it is worth looking forward to strengthening additional power in the remaining transfer market. Since winning FC Seoul in 2016, "modern" teams have remained at the top of the K League 1, with Jeonbuk having six and Ulsan having three. If there is a team that makes a crack in the composition for the first time in 10 years, it is most likely to be a match led by head coach Hwang Sun-hong at this point.
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*This content was translated by AI.
