When considering of among the most understatedly impactful signings in current reminiscence, Gangwon FC’s latest captain Lee You-hyeon must be within the dialog as maybe one of the best. Initially signed on mortgage from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2024, the 28-year-old turned a dependable central midfielder for the provincial membership, and was an vital a part of the Bears’ squad which certified for the AFC Champions League Elite for the very first time. Signed completely in December of the identical 12 months, the central midfielder continues to remain an integral a part of the membership’s future.
Commercial
In just below two weeks, Gangwon will make their debut outing within the aforementioned Champions League with a house fixture in opposition to Shanghai Shenhua, who at the moment sit second place within the Chinese language Tremendous League. On how preparations are going for this, Lee You-hyeon states: “The league schedule has been somewhat tight up to now. There’s been one too many video games for us, however we are going to make the most of this worldwide break and beginning tomorrow (September fifth), which is our first day again from the break, we are going to begin making ready for each the Ok League and the Champions League video games in order that we are able to have nice ends in each competitions.”
It’s after all an thrilling time for Gangwon as a complete, who had been based in 2008 – making them a comparatively new membership in a wider context – and till final season’s rise to title challengers had solely completed as excessive as sixth within the desk. Nonetheless, the Bears’ new captain says the group are staying level-headed for the challenges forward. “Though the Champions League is a large event, the gamers aren’t getting too excited or getting too emotional for the time being as a result of we even have lots of skilled gamers who’ve gone via critical seasons within the Champions League. So our participant’s stance for now’s that we simply should comply with the pinnacle coach’s lead, after which all the things else can be alright,” he explains.
This 12 months, one main change for the group was the departure of supervisor Yoon Jong-hwan. Appointed in the summertime of 2023, the present Incheon United boss first achieved a promotion/relegation playoff triumph for Gangwon in opposition to Gimpo FC, earlier than overhauling the group’s fashion of play utterly the 12 months after. Proactive, direct and in a position to lean on gamers comparable to Yang Min-hyeok, Hwang Mun-ki and Lee Sang-heon for constant objective contributions, Gangwon turned some of the pleasing groups to observe, and for an extended interval pushed eventual title winners Ulsan HD to the wire. This marketing campaign broke all types of too, from the highest-league end (2nd), to the group’s longest profitable streak (5).
A part of the group’s progress got here when Lee You-hyeon underwent a change from full-back to central midfielder. Together with his excessive vitality, the 28-year-old is ready to function box-to-box, and is simply as comfy progressing the ball as he’s getting concerned in defence with interceptions and tackles. When requested about his extra everlasting change right into a midfielder, Lee states: “Final 12 months I underwent the change of positions from fullback to midfield, and the group has had lots of success with that. I additionally consider that I felt assured and had lots of success in that place, but it surely wasn’t my first time, as a number of years again in Jeonbuk, I needed to play as a midfielder and winger throughout a season. So that have has been a terrific stepping stone to get used to this new midfield function in Gangwon, and the pinnacle coach gave lots of suggestions and communication on find out how to enhance and maintain enjoying as a midfielder, so I didn’t have too many difficulties getting used to it final 12 months.”
Commercial
Persevering with, on his new private accountability of being appointed membership’s captain over midway via such a pivotal 12 months, the midfielder says: “I perceive the significance of the remainder of the video games we have now within the Ok League, however Kim Dong-hyun has achieved a very good job beginning off the group as captain this 12 months. So though I really feel somewhat little bit of stress to steer the group for the remainder of the season, I’m assured that Kim Dong-hyun has achieved a terrific job of beginning off, so I don’t see too many large difficulties (for me) to complete off the season as captain.”
At present, Gangwon are led by Chung Kyung-ho. A former Gangwon participant between 2009 and 2011, in addition to an assistant coach below Yoon Jong-hwan, this can be a dwelling province group already acquainted to the first-time supervisor. When requested about what it’s like enjoying below their present head coach, Lee You-hyeon replies: “Final 12 months, when he was the assistant supervisor, I felt the gamers had been a bit extra pleasant in direction of him, and a bit extra joking. However this 12 months, since he has became a head coach, the gamers are somewhat extra cautious speaking with him. I perceive that changing into a head coach follows much more duties; I’m additionally interested in how the pinnacle coach will really feel taking his first function as a supervisor in soccer.”
It’s pure, then, that such a change can include some rising pains. In any case, it was already going to be a tall order to follow-up a report breaking season. However tactically Chung Kyung-ho has proven his potential as a supervisor already, and has overseen some spectacular outcomes, comparable to a 1-0 away victory in opposition to league leaders Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, a 2-1 win in opposition to reigning Ok League 1 champions Ulsan HD (their first at Munsu since 2012), and a 3-0 thrashing of Jeju SK the place Gangwon had been medical in transitions.
Extra not too long ago, Gangwon’s beforehand combined kind has steadied, they usually have began gaining consistency on the proper time. Serving to the trigger are summer time additions Mo Jae-hyun, who has scored three and assisted two in 9 appearances, and veteran striker Kim Gun-hee, in addition to army returnees Kim Dae-won and Search engine optimisation Min-woo. Skilled and pushed, these gamers have added one other dimension to the Bears’ attacking play, whereas additionally positively contributing in defence.
Commercial
Following 4 consecutive clean-sheets, in addition to back-to-back wins, Gangwon now sit in seventh place, degree on factors with Gwangju FC within the high half. On what the targets are for the rest of the league season, Lee You-hyeon says: “If the gamers are in a position to sustain with no matter they’re doing as for now, then we for certain have a very good probability of going into the highest six, and even reaching way more than that.”
It’s the same story for his personal ambitions, with the captain including: “My objective personally can be to attain a top-six end (Closing A), and have one of the best outcomes as we are able to get within the final 5 video games in order that we are able to get one other ticket to the Champions League for subsequent season.”
So, maybe it’s value getting excited for Gangwon’s first foray onto the Champions League Elite stage. That is clearly a membership and group of gamers trying upwards, able to tackle new challenges with a grounded optimism. And, as Lee You-hyeon at one level says in the course of the interview: “As soon as the gamers are given the alternatives, they’re prepared to indicate their most capabilities.”
Commercial
The passionate followers will play their half too, after all. Repeatedly, Gangwon dwelling matches draw near 10,000 supporters in attendance, and it is noticeable simply how full of life the environment of those crowds have grow to be. Put merely, there seems to be a real perception in what the group are pulling in direction of, along with the brand new historical past being written.
When requested for his personal message for Gangwon followers, Lee You-hyeon states: “No matter dwelling or away video games, the Gangwon followers have proven nice assist in direction of the group, which I consider is likely one of the causes we’ve had lots of success currently within the league. If the followers would proceed to indicate this love and affection in direction of the group for the rest of the season, I might be very happy to share the feelings and success with the followers as properly.”
Gangwon are again in Ok League motion on September thirteenth in opposition to FC Seoul, earlier than getting into the AFC Champions League Elite on the sixteenth in opposition to Shanghai Shenhua.