Busan's aggressive squad-coaching reorganization is noticeable... New power reinforcement + Cho Sung-hwan's division is complete
Busan's aggressive squad-coaching reorganization is noticeable... New power reinforcement + Cho Sung-hwan's division is complete
Blog Article
"I changed everything."
K-League 2 Busan I'Park is aggressively reorganizing itself from its first start in the new year. It is expressing its commitment to promote to the top division more strongly than ever. The Busan team has beefed up its players on Monday, the first day of 2025. It has recruited a whopping 13 players, including 10 experienced players who have been proven in the K-League, and three promising players. Those who have been hired as free agents or on loan consist of eight defenders, one striker, and one goalkeeper. As the Busan team explained, the team has made all-out efforts to strengthen its defense.
Busan had 55 points and 45 goals in 36 matches during the 2024 regular season. Although it had more goals than Anyang FC (51 points - 36 goals), which was directly promoted by winning the K League 2, it was lagging far behind in the ball-to-ball margin ratio due to its large number of goals lost. In fact, Busan had many missed "finished fish" last season due to its weak defense. For Busan, which has to seek promotion to the first and second places in the regular league in the new season in 2025 and stable promotion to the first division, it was urgent to crack down on the back door.
The team has brought proven veterans. Jang Ho-ik, 32, once a flagship defender of Suwon Samsung, stands out. A graduate of the Jeonbuk Hyundai Youth Team (Yeongsaeng High School), Jang made his professional debut in Suwon in 2016 and was invited by coach Cho Seong-hwan (55). Jang Ho-ik was coached by Cho when he was a member of the Jeonbuk Youth Team.
Kim Sang-won (33), who started his professional career with Jeju United in 2014, was also Cho's favorite player at the time. After Cho's recommendation, he changed his position from midfielder to winger and upgraded to multiplayer, and gained experience in various top flight teams by playing in Gwangju, Anyang, Pohang, and Suwon FC. In addition, Kim Jin-rae (28), Jeong Ho-geun (26), Jeon Seong-jin (24), Kim Dong-wook (22), Hong Jae-seok (22), and Park Chang-woo (22) have recruited resources to evenly take charge of central and side defense from early to late 20s, creating a new and old harmony. Young blood Kim Min-ki (21), who was recruited as an offensive resource, is an "unfinished standby." Kim Min-ki, who is physically fit and weighs 1 meter 87 kilograms, is a multiplayer who specializes in central positions including front-line one-top, center back, and defensive midfielder.
In addition, Busan has recruited three top promising players. Born in 2006, these players have been proven in the youth soccer field by steadily going through national teams of different ages. Winger Kim Hyun-min led his alma mater (Yeongdeungpo Technical High School) to win the Diamond Jubilee title and achieve his second consecutive presidential gold medal. Striker Baek Ga-on helped him win all four games at the U-20 Asian Cup qualifying tournament last year, and goalkeeper Kim Yu-rae is the "future goalkeeper" who was selected for the U-16 national team in 2022.
Cho, who failed to form a complete division after taking office in the middle of last July's season, also gained strength. Oh Jang-eun, 40, and Yang Dong-won, 38, two of whom were best friends with Suwon Samsung when they were active players. Kwon, who was Cho's favorite player in Jeju and Incheon, reunited with Cho as a playing coach specializing in defense. Support staff including Hwang Geun-woo, head of the medical team who was in charge of the Jeonbuk Youth Team, Jeju and Incheon, 안전놀이터 have also been recruited to reflect Cho's intentions, completing the entire division. "We will also continue to strengthen our team including foreign players even after the team leaves for training in Thailand on Thursday," the Busan team said. "We will spare no effort to provide support for promotion this year."