Another of the global football leagues is due to get underway next month, with the K League returning to action in South Korea. Matches are due to commence on May 8th. This means the eyes of the football world will have somewhere else to focus their attention. However, most UK bettors are unlikely to have much experience here.
The K League was initially rebranded in 2013, to the K League Classic. However, it changed back to K League in 2018. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC, who play their football in the impressive Jeonju World Cup Stadium, have won both league titles since.
Games are scheduled to begin on 8th May, with reigning champions Jeonbuk Hyundai taking on Suwon Samsung Bluewings. With fans craving sport more than ever, here is an insight into the first Asian football league to return, post lockdown.
K League 1 2019 Season: Information and Stats
Who was crowned champions? Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC
Who was relegated? – Jeju United FC & Gyeongnam FC
Who was top scorer? Adam Taggart (Suwon Samsung Bluewings) with 20 Goals
As mentioned, Jeonbuk Hyundi Motors FC took the 2019 crown, making it successive league titles, with Ulsan Hyundai finishing in second position. The Australian, Adam Taggart, who plays for Suwon Samsung Bluewings, was the top goal scorer, Kim Bo-kyung of Ulsan Hyundai taking the MVP award.
K League 1 2020 Season: Information and Stats
Jeonbuk Hyundai FC will go into the season confident of making it 3 successive titles, but there will be teams hungry to topple them off the top spot. Other potential title contenders are:
Ulsan Hyundai FC
Last season’s runners up on goal difference will want to continue that momentum into this season, by going one better and taking the title. If they are to do so, they will need Brazilian striker Júnior Negrão to carry on his from the last couple of years, which has seen him score 40 goals in 67 appearances.
Seoul FC
Seoul FC based in the nation’s capital, have not been as successful as their highly spirited fans would have hoped in recent years. However, with the game growing in South Korea, they are improving year on year. Park Chu-young, once of Arsenal, has led the line since 2015. His experience will be vital if they want to win the title.
Daegu FC
Since being promoted back to the top division in 2017, Daegu have seen year on year improvement. Last season, finishing 5th in K League 1. Several players in the squad were there when the team won the Domestic FA Cup in 2018, proving in the process they can win silverware. The player to look out for in their squad is newly announced captain, Hong Jeong-woon.
Upcoming K League 1 Fixtures:
13th June
Ulsan Hyundai vs Seongnam, 08:30
Jeonbuk vs Incheon, 11:00
Sangju Sangmu vs Pohang, 11:00
Suwon Bluewings vs Gangwon, 11:00
14th June
Daegu vs Seoul, 11:00
Gwangju FC vs Busa, 11:00
16th June
Gangwon vs Ulsan Hyundai, 11:00
Pohang vs Jeonbuk, 11:30
Seongnam vs Suwon Bluewings, 11:30
17th June
Gwangju FC vs Incheon, 10:00
Sangju Sangmu vs Seoul, 11:00
Busan vs Daegu, 12:00
20th June
Pohang vs Gangwon, 11:00
Seongnam vs Sangju Sangmu, 11:00
Seoul vs Ulsan Hyundai, 11:00
21st June
Incheon vs Busan, 10:00
Jeonbuk vs Gwangju FC, 10:00
Daegu vs Suwon Bluewings, 12:00
26th June
Gwangju FC vs Pohang, 11:00
Busan vs Seongnam, 11:00
Seoul vs Incheon, 11:00
27th June
Daegu vs Gangwon, 12:00
Ulsan Hyundai vs Jeonbuk, 10:00
Suwon Bluewings vs Sangju Sangmu
4th July
Gangwon vs Busan, 11:00
Suwon Bluewings vs Seoul, 11:00
Ulsan Hyundai vs Incheon, 11:00
5th July
Gwangju FC vs Daegu, 11:00
Sangju Sangmu vs Jeonbuk, 11:00
Seongnam vs Pohang, 11:00
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