On February 25, the 2023 K-League season kicked-off with defending South Korean champions Ulsan Hyundai defeating runners-up Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2-1.
“We want to tackle a fresh set of challenges and chart a new path? Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo said. We will do the best we can in every match, just as we've done all along. We want to have the same approach this season as last”
That opening game marked the 40th anniversary of Asia’s oldest professional league. Back in 1983, five teams fought it out with the winners of the inaugural competition, the church-backed club Hallelujah, finishing above Daewoo Royals, Yukong Elephants, POSCO Dolphins and Kookmin Bank.
Much has changed since then, with plenty of ups and downs along the way. There was a massive boost to attendances in the league for a while after the 2002 World Cup, when South Korea reached the semi-finals on home soil, but that excitement was not built upon. By 2011 there were 16 teams but a massive match-fixing scandal in that season brought in a reorganisation that saw the top tier reduced to 12 by 2014 and relegation and promotion introduced.
Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2023 de World Soccer.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
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
