Football Season Guide

Gangwon FC are coming off their best ever season in the K League, finishing 2nd in the end but were pushing for the title late into the season. Largely down to the phenomenal performance of 18-year-old rookie Min-hyuk Yang who had the best ever season of a rookie in the league's history with 12 goals. Yang (att k) and Hwang (def k) have left and crucially the manager that led them to their best ever finish, after failing to agree a contract extension. His replacement has come from within as the assistant is taking over. This is Chung Kyung-ho's first full time appointment but had an ill-fated spell as caretaker at Seongnam in 2022 winning only 3 games in his 11 in charge. Lots of incomings mostly from the 2nd division but Yang and Hwang are big holes to fill. With an untested new coach and losing their two best players, it will be impossible for them to repeat their marvellous 2024 campaign and a return to the norm of a bottom half finish is highly likely. Add to that, they will have ACLE football come August and the squad is sure to be stretched. Friendly results haven't been great with a lack of goals an issue. Their style of build up caused a number of teams problems last year with Tuci (def K) and Gi-hyuk Lee (def k) both among the best in the league at this. They will take a lot of confidence from their previous campaign and also have two key players returning from the army in June. Both attack and defence could be seen as weaknesses. Taking out Yang's 12 goals and the complete change to the right side with Hwang off to the army as well, will weaken the attack. While the defence was leaky last season, despite their high finish, with a number of heavy defeats when their build up broke down and they were picked off in transition at ease.