Foreigners who were 'exempted from training' lost 15kg in 50 days → 'final goal' as soon as they returned... Expectations for Ulsan's 'New Solver'

*This content was translated by AI.

Incheon United and Ulsan HD faced off in the 7th round of the K League 1 professional football match at Incheon Football Stadium on the 11th. When Ulsan striker Malkon (32, Brazil) was caught on the broadcast screen preparing to replace him at the end of the game, his "different appearance" became a big topic among fans. This is because he lost noticeable weight.

The match was Malkong's first appearance in the K-League this season and his first appearance in 52 days since the final match of the 2025-2026 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite League stage against Shanghai Sanggang (China) in February. In the meantime, Malkon was not even able to sit on the bench after the opening of the K League 1 and was even excluded from team training. Then, in about 50 days, he came back with a completely different appearance.

There was a reason. Since joining Ulsan last year, Malkong, who has gained a lot of weight compared to the past, has shown a lot of physical burden since joining Ulsan. In the end, coach Kim Hyun-seok, who took the helm this season, excluded Malkong from team training. It was simply an extraordinary move.

Coach Kim Hyun-seok's condition for Malkong's return to training was to pass within 6 minutes of the 1.5km run. At least this physical strength had to be prepared to be eligible to play in Ulsan, "Kim Hyun-seok-ho." Malkong, who was excluded from the training, simply clenched his teeth. According to the club, Malkong increased his physical strength by controlling his diet and exercising, and at the same time diligently began to manage his weight. Even after returning home from personal training, I personally focused on weight management through exercise.

Eventually, Malkong lost as much as 15 kilograms in 50 days. Thanks to this, the requirements for returning to training proposed by head coach Kim Hyun-seok were also met. After joining the team's training, he improved his condition further and accompanied the team for the first time on the away trip to Incheon on the 11th, and he went on the ground for the first time this season in the 38th minute of the second half when he faced 1-1.

It didn't stop there. Malkung broke the net by connecting Lee Kyu-sung's side cross with a header after five minutes out of six extra minutes. It was the theater's winning goal in his first K-League match this season. Malkong, who was roaring, also performed the "tumbling ceremony" requested by a young fan at the departure ceremony in February in front of away fans in Ulsan.

For Ulsan, the game became an important turning point. First of all, Malkung's winning goal was the winning goal that broke the trend of no wins (1 draw and 1 loss) in two consecutive games. It was also significant in that there was expectation for another heavy striker on the front line. This season, Ulsan has Yago as the main striker and has scored five goals in six games, but there was no proper absence of a backup striker to ease his burden. In the meantime, Heo Yul was put in instead of Yago and received the opportunity, but he has not yet opened the door.

However, thanks to Malkong's clear presence from his return match on the day, coach Kim Hyun-seok has more cards to use at the forefront. Yago scored a valuable first goal and Malkong, who was substituted instead, was in charge of the winning goal, which is an ideal picture for Ulsan, which seeks to "retake the top" and is a burden for the other team. "I would like to thank (Kim Hyun-seok) for his trust," Malkong said through the club. "I will show a performance that will capture the hearts of fans regardless of the playing time in the future."

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*This content was translated by AI.