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| Home Page | This is a brief
outline of Korea's 10 professional teams, based on the order in which they
finished the 2000 season. There are still some more details I have to
include, so bear with me! For 'major trophies,' I've only included the
league title and the F.A. Cup, as the other competitions have had so many
different names and formats as to make it extremely confusing.
Comments: Following a few dreadful years, Anyang finally got the balance right in 2000. A key factor was the addition of midfield playmaker Andre Santos, the improved supply to Choi Yong-soo and Jung Kwang-min proving deadly. Choi's departure to JEF United (J. League) could upset the team, but may provide the chance for Choi Tai-uk to make the breakthrough. At the back, Lee Sang-hun & co. present an intimidating obstacle for any attack.Back to the Top 
Comments: After a few years in the doldrums, the former powerhouse had a strong if ultimately frustrating season last year. They look ambitious, though, and have splashed out a lot of money on signing Sasa Drakulic and holding onto Shin Tae-yong and Park Kang-jo. Should do well, especially if Kim Hyun-soo turns in another defensive performance like last season, and Kim Young-chul, alongside him, lives up to his potential.Back to the Top 
Comments: Desperately unlucky to lose league top scorer Kim Do-hoon to injury at a vital stage of the league last season, but had a happy ending by taking their first ever trophy in the F.A. Cup. Remains to be seen whether they can survive such a blow this year. Expect a good season from Yang Hyun-jung. The prospect of a place in the national squad should also provide Park Sung-bae with plenty of motivation, if the 'Black Shark' needed it.Back to the Top 
Comments: Looks like having a very strong side this season. The signing of Lee Sang-yoon will give them an extra dimension up front. The biggest question mark is over whether Lee Sung-jae and Gwak Kyoung-keun can hit the net often enough. With a top-notch, 15-goals-a-season striker, Puchon would be the league's most complete team.Back to the Top 
Comments: Expect the Blue Wings to come storming back this season. Seo Dong-won, if he fits into Kim Ho's system, could be the best signing of the year. If Ko Jong-soo can keep consistent and injury-free, and if Denis Laktionov and Sandro dos Santos can click the way they did late last season, this team will be hard to stop.Back to the Top 
Comments: This season's dark horse. On form, Manic Radivoje is one of the league's most dangerous players, but he has to do it week-in, week-out. The I.cons should benefit from a more stable start to the season than last year, and if Kim Ho-gon can get the best out of players such as Lee Gi-boo and Jang Dae-il, the crowds may come flocking back.Back to the Top 
Comments: Last season's underachievers, the Dragons were looking good before the goals dried up from Roh Sang-rae. Potentially among the best forward and back lines in the league, but have struggled to replace Kim Doh-keun with an authoritative midfield figure. Finished 2000 strongly; need more depth, as well as more confidence.Back to the Top 
Comments: Short on resources but resilient, the Citizen have yet to finish bottom despite the doomsayers' perennial predictions. An impressive spell last season ran out of steam due to a lack of depth. Kim Eun-jung and Lee Kwan-woo would be comfortable in any team in the league, but Taejon will probably be satisified with a top-five finish and a good cup run.Back to the Top 
Comments: Pohang's fans, accustomed as they are to success, can't have been be too happy with the last couple of seasons. The departure of Lee Dong-gook for the Bundesliga has hardly given them grounds for optimism either. One bright spot is that Choi Soon-ho appears more likely than predecessor Park Sung-hwa to make full use of the considerable talents of Abbas Obeid Jassim. Having Kim Byung-ji between the posts at a time when he's fighting to keep a place in the national squad may also help.Back to the Top 
Comments: The Tigers will be eager to put last year's disastrous season behind them. They certainly have the bones of a decent side, with the likes of Kim Do-kyun and Choi Chul-woo being joined this season by Cho Se-kwon. Pre-season friendly results have given little cause for optimism, however, and Kim Jung-nam looks like having a major job on his hands. Back to the Top | |