After a record-setting 2024, the place Gangwon FC managed a second-place end and certified for the AFC Champions League Elite for the primary time of their historical past, curiosity was excessive on what the Bears may obtain this 12 months. With that in thoughts, columnist recaps Gangwon’s 2025, the place the group followed-up on their newfound success with a commendable fifth-placed end.
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What Went Effectively
In a season of heavy transition, with Jung Kyung-ho taking his first step right into a Head Coach position following the departure of record-breaking supervisor Yoon Jong-hwan, in addition to key gamers Hwang Mun-ki (navy service) and Yang Min-hyeok leaving, Gangwon can look again on their Last A end as successful. Certain, it wasn’t all the time fairly, and their eventual fifth-placed spot was largely earned via a revival of kind within the second-half of the marketing campaign, however in a 12 months the place expectations on what the Bears may obtain had grown, the provincial membership made some stable steps in direction of exhibiting their need to match loftier ambitions.
A big consider Gangwon’s respectable 12 months was their appreciable defensive enhancements. Conceding 15 much less targets than in 2024, the Bears additionally stored 15 clear sheets, the joint-highest quantity in Okay League 1 alongside the title winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. And the group wanted this solidity too, on condition that 11 of their 13 victories had been received by a one-goal margin, together with seven 1-0 triumphs.
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Trying way more composed and structured in defence, Jung Kyung-ho’s philosophy of limiting opposition groups to decrease high quality possibilities was a good tactic to deploy, a lot so that after some summer time signings and navy returnees reinvigorated the attacking line, Gangwon would lose solely three of their remaining 19 league matches (seven wins, 9 attracts), and stay unbeaten of their Gangneung house. So sure, the group mightn’t have grabbed the identical quantity of headlines this time round, however attaining the membership’s second-highest end, second-highest factors whole, and a possible AFC Champions League Two spot for 2026 is nothing to hand-wave.
What Did not Go Effectively
In 2024, Yoon Jong-hwan had Gangwon firing in assault, they usually went on to attain 62 instances throughout the season, the joint-highest within the division (while breaking the membership’s file for targets in a season). This 12 months, nevertheless, the Bears managed simply 37 targets, the bottom whole throughout Okay League 1.
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It wasn’t simply a problem with being medical, both. Jung Kyung-ho’s males had the second-lowest xG whole within the top-flight (43.8), the second-lowest pictures on the right track whole (3.8 per 90), and ranked ninth for large possibilities created (55). Lacking Yang Min-hyeok and Hwang Mun-ki’s efficiency, Gangwon couldn’t actually discover avenues to create constant targets within the first a part of the season, however did ultimately discover a rhythm as soon as a settled attacking quartet of Kim Dae-won, Kim Gun-hee, Lee Sang-Jeon and Mo Jae-hyun was established. However, they’ll want extra creativity in 2026 to keep away from potential over reliance on defensive work.
Younger Participant of the 12 months
A dependable hand at centre-back, Shin Min-ha assuredly took on an elevated position with the group in 2025, the place he was trusted to begin the vast majority of league video games. Taking part in with a wide range of companions in each three-back and four-back methods, the 20-year-old prospect largely stored a good stage of consistency too, averaging (per 90) 1.01 tackles, 3.84 duels received, 1.55 interceptions, and a pair of.98 recoveries.
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With Shin Min-ha now set to “graduate” from Gangwon’s symbolic quantity 47 shirt given to promising kids, the aim for the centre-back needs to be to proceed establishing himself as one in all Okay League 1’s best younger defenders, fine-tune some areas of his sport, and stay heading in the right direction to turn into one other one of many Bears’ standout squad members, no matter age.
Group MVP
Regardless of solely signing in the summertime, Mo Jae-hyun was one in all Gangwon’s greatest catalysts for his or her eventual Last A end. With 5 targets and 5 assists in Okay League 1 motion, the winger contributed to 27% of his group’s targets this season, his directness serving to remodel the Bears’ type of play to a extra proactive, front-footed strategy.
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Per 90, Mo Jae-hyun averaged 4.15 touches within the opposition field, 1.4 possibilities created, 3.55 recoveries, 1.76 pictures, and an xG whole of 0.2. Helped by having gamers like Kim Gun-hee round him, the 29-year-old’s aim contributions additionally straight contributed to an uplift of 9 factors for Gangwon too, sufficient to showcase his artistic spark while additionally making certain the Bears had been by no means in any hazard of being pulled in direction of hazard.
Most Disappointing Participant
Although not essentially his personal fault, Mario Cuze has to go down as one of many Bears’ greatest what-ifs in 2025. Signed within the winter for a comparatively important payment, the winger solely appeared 3 times for Gangwon earlier than being loaned again to his former membership Zrinjski Mostar, the place he has scored three targets in 14 appearances.
Whether or not the Croatian did not adapt to his new environment, if he struggled discovering a spot in a group that had undergone a big squad overhaul, or if it was a mixture of a variety of things a few of which is able to by no means be identified, the actual fact Mario Cuze is unlikely to return to the provincial membership means his potential affect will stay a thriller.
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Most Essential Resolution of the Off-Season
Within the final couple of years, Gangwon have prided themselves on sustainable recruitment. Not solely have the membership invested closely in youthful gamers, in addition to searching for out hidden gems from decrease divisions and tough diamonds from throughout the top-flight, however they’ve additionally managed to generate first rate income from key gross sales of homegrown expertise (particularly Yang Hyun-jun to Celtic, and Yang Min-hyeok to Tottenham).
With that being mentioned, plenty of success in 2025 got here due to the summer time arrivals of Kim Gun-hee and Mo Jae-hyun, skilled gamers who’re 30 and 29 respectively. So with the top-flight now more and more aggressive, is now the time for a slight tweak to Gangwon’s recruitment processes? And, a minimum of this season, ought to the Bears try to push ahead by buying some extra established names to bridge the hole between their quick and long run targets? In any case, the membership solely have three outfield gamers over the age of 30 of their squad, so extra expertise arriving will not be a nasty thought.
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Arguably extra importantly, although, is the necessity for the membership to retain its star gamers. In a marked distinction from simply a few years in the past, Gangwon now have a substantial quantity of high quality within the ranks that might generate curiosity from different golf equipment, whether or not it’s gamers with excessive ceilings like Lee Seung-won, Shin Min-ha and Park Sang-hyeok, or seasoned professionals corresponding to Kim Dae-won, Lee You-hyeon and Search engine optimisation Min-woo. Retaining the vast majority of their present squad would possibly simply give Jung Kyung-ho an edge over different sides otherwise, and reinforce the general want for a high quality, not amount strategy to the winter market on the subject of the required attacking and defensive reinforcements, whoever they could be.