Jeonbuk’s new clubhouse to open on October 4

Jeonbuk Hyundai FC’s newly built clubhouse will be disclosed on October 4.

Jeonbuk has been building the new clubhouse over three years and fans have been invited to attend the opening of the facility on Friday morning. 

The clubhouse includes two full-size outdoor fields and 3-floor indoor training facility. Jeonbuk Hyundai officials have visited Manchester United, Bolton Wanderers, Athletico Madrid, Bordeux and Yokohama Marinos’ training centers before planning their own clubhouse.

“The new clubhouse is a step toward a more advanced club system,” said Jeonbuk’s director, Lee Chul-Keun. “We will try our best at the best facility and become not only a trophy-winning but a world-famous club.”

South Korea to face Brazil and Mali in October

An insider told Sports Chosun that South Korean National Football Team will play Brazil (11 Oct) and Mali (15 Oct) in friendlies.

 

According to the insider, KFA have tried to set a friendly match with Brazil from April. However, due to financial disagreement, the negotiation was postponed. After several months of negotiation, two teams have reported reached an agreement.

This will be the first A-Match ever against Mali, and the first in 11 years against Brazil.

Suwon Bluewings Sign Santos

Suwon Samsung officially announced that the club signed Natanael de Souza Santos Junior, or simply Santos, from Wuhan Zall in China. The 27 year old forward impressed fans in Korea during the three seasons he spent in Jeju United, leading the club to an unprecedented runners-up position in the 2010 season. Overall, he scored 42 goals and made 20 assists in 92 games played at Jeju.

He moved to Wuhan Zall before this season, but failed to secure his position at the Chinese club. Suwon Samsung, which needed a creative forward to assist Jong Tae-Se and Cho Dong-Geon, approached the Brazilian with a 2-year-and-a-half contract.

Santos was given number 11 at Suwon.

Kim Eun-Jung To Be Loaned Out to Pohang Steelers

According to several media, Gangwon FC’s striker Kim Eun-Jung will spend the next six months at Pohang Steelers on a loan deal. After his medical test is finished, his move will be officially announced. 

 

The 34 year old will add experience and weight to the front line of Pohang Steelers, which has been struggling to find a reliable goal scorer. Kim Eun-Jung has scored 119 goals so far in the K-League, with his career at Daejeon Citizen, FC Seoul, Jeju United and Gangwon FC, as well as brief spell at Vegalta Sendai (Japan) and Changsha Ginde (China; now Gunagzhou R&F). 

Bang Seung-Hwan Joins Muangthong United

Muangthong United announced that a South Korean striker Bang Seung-Hwan joined the club from Busan I’Park. The 30-year-old, who was originally under contract with Busan until December 2014, agreed to mutually terminate the contract.

 

Bang Seung-Hwan, who formerly played for Incheon United, Jeju United and FC Seoul, holds the record for the quickest goal scored in all Korean football competitions, having scored a goal just 11 seconds after kick-off for Incheon United against Pohang Steelers in a 2–2 draw on May 23, 2007. 

Jeonbuk to sign Kim Kee-Hee

Sports Chosun reported today that Daegu FC’s Kim Kee-Hee is joining Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

According to the article, Kim Kee-Hee has already joined the squad and specific negotiations regarding the contract will be soon made.

Kim Kee-Hee, who made his professional debut at Daegu in 2011, played for Al-Sailiya SC in Qatar on a 9 month loan deal. His loan contract with Al-Sailiya terminated on June 30.

http://sports.chosun.com/news/ntype.htm?id=201307100100077010005637&servicedate=20130709

Yōhei Kajiyama Set to join Suwon Bluwings

Numerous sources from both Japan and South Korea have suggsted that 27 year old Japanese playmaker Yōhei Kajiyama is going to join Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Originally a FC Tokyo player, Yōhei Kajiyama joined Panathinaikos FC in Greece at the beginning of this year, but has reportedly left the Athens-based side in June after a brief, disappointing spell. Suwon Samsung Bluewings, which has been desperately searching for a replacement of Kim Doo-Hyun, who has suffered from injuries, is reportedly in negotiation with FC Tokyo to bring the Japanese to the squad. If Yōhei Kajiyama joins Suwon Samsung, he becomes the second Japanese player to play for the club after Naohiro Takahara in 2010.

 

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/soccer/world/news/20130708-OHT1T00010.htm

Kim Jung-Woo Transfer Listed at Jeonbuk

It was reported that Kim Jung-Woo is transfer listed at Jeonbuk Hyundai.

An insider hinted South Korean football magazine Best Eleven that Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors have decided to let Kim Jung-Woo go. Kim Jung-Woo joined Jeonbuk at the beginning of 2012 season with high expectations, but has constantly suffered from injuries.

Manager Choi Kang-Hee, who returned to the club after a year and a half spell at the national team, is planning to rebuild the squad and several players, including Kim Jung-Woo, seem to have been left out of Choi Kang-Hee’s plan.

Jeju and Chunnam exchange Park Gi-Dong and Hwang Do-Yeon

Jeju United and Chunnam Dragons have reportedly agreed on a big exchange deal. Jeju’s striker Park Gi-Dong joins the Dragons while Chunnam’s young prospect Hwang Do-Yeon moves in the opposite direction.

Park Gi-Dong, who was one of the key players at Gwangju FC, has failed to settle at the Jeju, failing to score in six matches at the club. Chunnam Dragons’ Hwang Do-Yeon was once regarded as one of the top prospects throughout U20 and U23 national team, but has been disappointing recently.

Stevica Ristić Leaves Suwon and the K-League

Suwon Bluewings announced through its official Facebook account that Stevica Ristić, also known simply as Stevo, is leaving the club after his two-year contract ends this summer. It is very likely that the Round 16 match against Daejeon on June 3 be Stevica’s last match at the club.

Stevica Ristić has scored 28 goals and made 5 assists in 71 games during the last two years at the club. Suwon is planning to award him a trophy to thank for his service at the club.

Although he did receive offers from two other clubs in Korea, Stevica Ristić has reportedly decided to leave Korea. It is reported that several clubs from China, Japan and Australia are interested in the 31 year old energetic forward.

K-League aims to establish two more clubs in Seoul

K-League announced the “Beyond 11” project, which is a blueprint for the next decade. With six main assignments (Excellent Service, Establishment of promotion/relegation system, Obligation to community, Improvement of self-sustainability of clubs through launching new business, development of sports specialist), K-League also announced a plan to increase the number of Seoul-based clubs to three.

Currently, FC Seoul is the only Seoul-based professional football club.

Kim Ho-Gon: I will let Kim Shin-Wook Leave For A Good Offer

Ulsan Hyundai manager Kim Ho-Gon stated after Round 15 match against FC Seoul that he will let Kim Shin-Wook move if there is a good offer. Previously, Kim Shin-Wook had told the press that he will follow his manager’s decision on his transfer.

“Kim Shin-Wook told me that he will follow my decisions regarding his transfer and he will concentrate on his game. I was so happy to hear that,” said Kim Ho-Gon after his team beat FC Seoul 2-0. “We haven’t received a good offer for him yet. He makes great contribution at our club. But because he showed me his faith, I will let him go anytime if an offer is made that can benefit both the team and the player.”

As a matter of fact, Kim Shin-Wook led his team to a meaningful victory against the reigning champion on this day, scoring the first goal of the match only fifty seconds after the kick-off.

Gangwon FC eyeing a South American international

Gangwon FC’s new chairwoman Lim Eun-Joo stated in an interview with KBS Chuncheon that Gangwon is keeping eye on a South American international player.

Formerly South Korea’s first female international referee, Lim Eun-Joo also said that Gangwon is planning to strengthen its squad to ensure survival in the K-League Classic.

Ko Cha-Won and Im Kyung-Hyun on an exchange deal

Rumors have been suggesting that Chunnam Dragons and Suwon Samsung have agreed on an exchange deal that involves Ko Cha-Won moving to the Bluewings and Im Kyung-Hyun heading opposite direction.

The exchange deal seems very likely as Ko Cha-Won added Suwon Samsung as a new workplace on his Facebook account.

South Korea vs Peru Fixture Scheduled on August 14

South Korean National Football Team, with the new manager Hong Myung-Bo on board, will play a friendly against Peru on August 14.

Peru is on the 30th in the FIFA rankings, while South Korea is on the 40th.

It is the first match between the two nations in 42 years; two teams played a friendly in Lima, Peru in February 1971 and Peru won by 4-0 on that occasion.

Both time and place for the August match have not yet been decided.