FIFA sanctions have ended, five foreign players are on the verge of debuting... 'A completely changed' Gwangju FC begins its comeback from last place

*This content was translated by AI.

The foundation for a turnaround has been laid. In their first match after the break, they held Ulsan HD at bay. Unlike the pre-break performances where they collapsed after conceding the first goal, Gwangju quickly regained balance immediately after going behind and faced off against the opponent with a spirited display of football. The next step is to deliver definite results. With no fewer than five foreign players set to make their debuts, plus intensified internal competition, the 'completely changed' Gwangju FC launches its second-half comeback.

In fact, Gwangju's first half was truly 'the worst.' In 15 matches, they managed only one win (4 draws, 10 losses), a dismal record. While scoring just seven goals, they conceded no fewer than 37. Every metric placed them at the bottom of K League 1. Had things continued this way, they would have had to play in the promotion-relegation playoffs after the season ended, with no certainty of surviving even those playoffs.

This was the result of multiple misfortunes colliding. Lee Jeong-hyo, who had led Gwangju for a long time, departed for Suwon Samsung. This was compounded by FIFA sanctions on player recruitment linked to unpaid social security contributions by Asani. Ultimately, since it was the fault of the front office, there was no one to blame. Regardless, with player recruitment impossible, the team's strength weakened and the squad depth thinned. Gwangju's collapse in the first half was, in itself, hardly surprising.

For such a Gwangju, the World Cup break of over a month proved to be a golden opportunity. Lee Jeong-gyu, manager of Gwangju, also resolved to make a fresh start. The manager insisted that he "changed everything during the break—both offense and defense," showing no intention of wasting this chance. Over a month of preparation resulted in a performance against Ulsan, which was filled with national team-level players, that did not yield ground.

The start was not good, as a back-pass error by Ju Se-jong in the 9th minute of the second half led to the opening goal. In the past, this could have been the signal for an uncontrollable collapse. However, Gwangju immediately launched a counterattack and restored balance within 10 minutes. They showed the strength not to crumble after conceding but to catch up right away. They were not satisfied with just the equalizer. Even until the final moments of the match, Gwangju engaged in fierce battles with Ulsan. Lee Jeong-gyu, manager of Gwangju, applauded the players' fighting spirit after the game.

If the draw against Ulsan was a preview of the changed Gwangju during the break, from the next match onward, the truly transformed Gwangju will be revealed. With FIFA's recruitment ban lifted during the break, Gwangju has diligently welcomed new players. They have particularly reinforced every position with foreign players. Although they could not participate in the Ulsan match as the K League player registration period had not yet opened, they are eligible to play from the next match onward. Even at Gwangju World Cup Stadium, where the Ulsan match was held, all unregistered players visited the venue.

Notably, there are no fewer than five foreign players set to make their debuts wearing Gwangju jerseys: center-back Van Hrunsven (Netherlands), striker Idele (Australia) who played for Seoul E-Land, winger Saitoski (Slovenia), multi-position defender Joao Pedro (Brazil), and winger Ba Loua (Ivory Coast). Considering the K League's characteristic high proportion of foreign players, it is difficult to gauge just how much Gwangju's strength will rise with five foreign players added at once. They are even pushing for additional foreign player recruitment.

Of course, starting positions are not guaranteed for them. Domestic players also have no intention of easily handing over their spots. The fierce internal competition will directly boost the team's competitiveness and simultaneously thicken the squad depth. The situation at Gwangju, where there were not enough personnel to conduct proper training and even a shortage of substitutes to sit on the bench, will change instantly.

Lee Jeong-gyu is filled with expectations. The manager said, "I think the newly arrived mercenaries also watched closely through today's match which players should be in which positions," and added, "(Through player recruitment) 10-on-10 training has become possible, so it is true that the atmosphere and motivation have improved significantly. Even veteran players are now conveying tactical discussions to the mercenaries."

He continued, "Given the large scope of changes in the squad, we are investing a lot of time. We invest time by sending animations or videos, holding meetings, etc. There is no major concern about organizational aspects. If problems arise in organization, it will ultimately be my responsibility," and added, "Our players are not significantly lacking in skill. Instead, what was most difficult in the first half was that we had to field the same lineup again for the next match. Now, there is a situation where different players can be deployed. From the next match against Pohang Steelers, I think you can expect a bit more."

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*This content was translated by AI.