Jeonbuk Hyundai, a professional soccer team looking for a new head coach, has changed its direction from a domestic team to a foreign leader.
An official familiar with Jeonbuk's internal situation said, "Jeonbuk has begun contacting foreign leaders in earnest," adding, "As far as I know, negotiations with domestic leaders, who were on the list of candidates, have virtually been suspended."
Jeonbuk managed to remain in the top division this year. Jeonbuk, which boasts the most wins (nine times) in the K-League 1, fell to 10th place after slumping continuously this year, experiencing its first playoff game. Although it remained in the league by winning the first and second playoff games 2-1 in both games, it is a disgraceful outcome. Jeonbuk is the most expensive club with a total annual salary of 20 billion won (about 20 billion won) in total, including the first and second playoff games, as of last year.
Jeonbuk, which needed to be reformed, announced the termination of its mutual contract with former coach Kim Doo-hyun on the 16th and said, "We plan to appoint the best person among the team's candidates with leadership, outstanding tactics, and strategies to realize the team's re-leap and rebuilding."
Gwangju FC coach Lee Jung-hyo and former Gangwon FC coach Yoon Jeong-hwan drew attention in the process. After taking the helm at Gwangju in 2022, Lee made Gwangju one of the strongest teams in the K-League, and Yoon elevated Gangwon, which suffered from relegation last year, to second place this year, receiving the K-League 1 Coach Award.
Jeonbuk manager Lee Do-hyun moved quickly while conducting interviews with Lee Jung-hyo, but this did not lead to the final conclusion. Meanwhile, Yoon took the helm of Incheon United, which had been demoted to the second division.
The soccer community believes that Jeonbuk has changed its direction to a foreign leader. In fact, Lee is known to have selected multiple foreign leaders as another candidate for coach and is negotiating with them. 토토사이트
Some have mentioned a leader who knows Korean soccer well, but more weight is put on a big name with a high name value. More careful choices are needed because Jeonbuk, such as Kim Sang-sik, Dan Petrescu and Kim Doo-hyun, who have been in charge of the baton for the past three years, broke up without completing the remaining contracts.
However, Jeonbuk does not have much time left. Jeonbuk will start preparations for the new season in January next year in Hua Hin and Bangkok, Thailand. It should select a new coach before then. Considering the process of reorganizing its squad, a new coach will be decided within this year at the latest.