Kim Ki-Dong joins ‘mainstream stage’, can FC Seoul reach a second peak?
Joining the mainstream and a different status.
He’s in the running for national team coach….
There are many targets to look forward to.
This is the story of Pohang Steelers coach Kim Ki-dong (51),
who is expected to take over as the new head coach of FC Seoul.
Kim Ki-dong, who is considered one of the best coaches in the K League with his ‘maneuvering magic’, is in the final stages of finalizing a contract with FC Seoul.
An official from FC Seoul confirmed this.
Kim’s move to FC Seoul is a matter of mutual interest.
Kim will be able to take charge of the capital city’s flagship club and make a name for himself in the national league, while FC Seoul,
which broke the 400,000 attendance mark this season,
can look forward to a second heyday after the “soccer boom” under Sérénol Guinness.
Kim Ki-dong, who was synonymous with clever and hardworking midfielders during his playing days,
is considered a coach who has always managed to take his teams to the top despite having few resources.
In his first year in charge of Pohang in 2019, he led the team to a fourth-place finish in the K League 1,
and in 2020, he won the manager’s award for his strong team colors despite finishing third in the league.
Every year has been a success, with a runner-up finish in the 2021 Asian Football Confederation
Champions League, a second-place finish in the K League One this year, and the top spot in the Football Association Cup. 토토사이트
Despite not having a lot of money, he was able to find and develop good players and sell them at a high price.
With FC Seoul outgrowing Pohang in terms of budget and squad size,
Kim could quickly become a candidate for the national team job if he can manage the team well.
FC Seoul is a prestigious club that has drawn 439,000 fans to its 19 home games this season, a new record for the division.
However, the team’s performance in recent years has been in the mid-to-low tier,
despite their brilliant marketing efforts.
If new coach Kim Ki-dong can attract fans with his “fun soccer”
style of play, attendance could grow even more rapidly.
Given that FC Seoul’s current fan base and popularity is based on the “attacking soccer”
of Guinness’s past, a new coach could help the club reach the next level.
Kim reportedly wants the best treatment in professional soccer.
FC Seoul is unlikely to skimp on their investment in the coach.
If a highly paid coach can attract fans, there’s money to be made.
