The 2024 K-League season kicks off on March 1, a national holiday on the peninsula that commemorates the people and movement that fought for independence from the Japanese colonisers in the first half of the 20th century. It is always a well-marked day, though often very cold, and should result in big crowds, lustily sung national anthems and plenty of Taegeukgi flags flying from apartment windows as well as stadiums.
There is some optimism ahead of the season. Attendances last year reached an average of almost 11,000, the highest for a decade, and there were record ticket revenues for the top tier worth around £20 million. These are not spectacular numbers but show a positive upwards trend. An exciting title race should help, especially as there wasn't really one last time with Ulsan Hyundai establishing a healthy lead early in the season and never really looking like letting go. It was so comfortable that even a late bad run offered no hope to the challengers.
The chasing pack, such as it was, was led by Pohang Steelers and the top two will meet on the opening day. However, this is not quite the same champion as before. Just days after lifting the league trophy for the second successive season and the fourth in total, the title winners rebranded themselves to Ulsan HD to align with the image of the owners.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2024 من World Soccer.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة March 2024 من World Soccer.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines