The K-League ahead of the 2023 season is a hot topic every day. Competition is expected to be fiercer than ever as the accumulated sediment between the manager and the players from before the season is revealed on the surface.
First of all, media and fans are paying attention to the ‘Hyundai Derby’ between Jeonbuk Hyundai and Ulsan Hyundai, the best box office check in the K-League. The two teams, which built a full-fledged second-final system from the 2019 season, fought fiercely for the trophy until last year. Teams that lost points in head-to-head matches often slipped.
Conflict reached its peak when Jun Amano left Ulsan ahead of this season and wore a Jeonbuk uniform. This season, Hyundai is more likely to be called the ‘Amano Derby’ than the Derby.
The starting point was the remarks of Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo last month. Director Hong criticized Amano by using a strong expression, “the worst Japanese.” This is because Amano, who was a loanee in Ulsan last season, promised to accompany the team again this year, but broke it and moved to Jeonbuk, the ‘opposite’.
At the official press conference, Amano, who was branded as a ‘traitor’, said, “Director Hong Myung-bo said that he was a ‘liar’ and ‘choosed money’, but this is not true. Even after the season ended, there was no official offer from the Ulsan club.” Following this, Ulsan even prepared the data for the fact check by the club officials and refuted it again.
The rivalry between the two teams in Hyundai has intensified with the recent Amano incident. Amano said, “I made the decision to transfer knowing the importance of my decision. I have already prepared for the game against Ulsan this season,” he emphasized.
Ahead of the new season, ‘genius midfielder’ Yoon Bit-garam and Jeju United coach Nam Ki-il also created another story. 슬롯사이트 As the conflict between the two turned out to be true last season, the confrontation between Jeju and Suwon FC is already being called ‘Yun Bitgaram Derby’.
Yoon Bit-garam, who played in Ulsan, returned to Jeju in January 2022 as a ‘parent’. Having played an active role as a key member, such as leading the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League victory in Ulsan, it seemed that he would continue his momentum in Jeju. However, Yun Bit-garam could not step on the ground for four months from April of last year. Rumors of a feud with coach Nam Ki-il circulated, and when it was revealed that Yun Bitgaram was in good condition while working out individually, the rumors of discord became true.
Director Nam Ki-il said at the media day of winter field training held on the 7th, “It is a pity that I did not communicate much with Yoon Bit-garam last season. I think it was a communication problem that my thoughts and the player’s thoughts didn’t match. He is one of the players who studied a lot in coaching,” he said. I hope that Yoon Bit-garam will play a pivotal role in the K-League and become a player whose name will continue to be known in the future.”
However, Yoon Bit-garam, who attended the press conference in the afternoon of the same day, was left with sediment. Looking back on last season, saying, “I was hurt a lot and it was difficult,” Yoon Bit-garam said with a firm expression, “There wasn’t much communication (with coach Nam Ki-il). During the few times of communication, thoughts that didn’t fit came and went, and I went to the 2nd Army. A lot of fans mistakenly think I ran out of the clubhouse. I couldn’t do it because I didn’t train,” he said.