Suwon FC shores up key signings after narrowly missing relegation

Suwon FC have reinforced their squad by signing experienced players like veteran forward Ji Dong-won from FC Seoul and defender Jeong Seung-won from rival Bluewings in addition to bringing in a new manager.

Suwon FC players celebrate after Lee Kwang-hyuk's goal during a promotion-and-relegation playoff against Busan IPark at Suwon Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi on Dec. 9, 2023. [YONHAP]

Suwon FC have played a bolder game than their local rivals Suwon Samsung Bluewings since the end of the 2023 K League season, having made sensible signings in addition to bringing in the former U-20 national manager.

Since avoiding relegation to the second division last season, Suwon FC have reinforced their squad by signing experienced players like veteran forward Ji Dong-won from FC Seoul.

Ji could boost the team’s lackluster attack that troubled them during last season, when no forward on the team scored a double-digit amount of goals. The team’s top scorer was midfielder Lee Seung-woo who racked up 10 goals in 35 league fixtures.

Suwon FC also signed defender Jeong Seung-won from rivals Bluewings, as the defense was the team’s biggest vulnerability last season. The club conceded the most amount of goals by any K League 1 team at 76.

New manager Kim Eun-jung, who joined the team last month, may also help the team reach a higher place on the league table than last season with the experience he has accumulated so far.

Suwon FC manager Kim Eun-jung speaks during an interview with Yonhap News Agency at Gyeongju Smart Airdome in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang on Jan. 25. [YONHAP]

His coaching career highlight is reaching the U-20 World Cup semifinals in June last year as the national team manager.

Last season was Suwon FC’s possibly worst season since being promoted to the top tier in 2021, remaining titleless with a dropping record.

After managing a fifth-place finish in 2021 and a seventh-place finish in 2022, the club struggled throughout the 2023 season and finished in 11th place on the 12-team table. The team beat K League 2 side Busan IPark in the promotion-and-relegation playoffs to avoid relegation.

Their local rivals Bluewings, on the other hand, finished the league at the bottom of the table and faced direct relegation to the second division for the first time in the club’s history.

Their efforts for improvements since relegation, however, have left some fans puzzled. The Bluewings appointed then-interim player-coach Yeom Ki-hun as permanent manager for the next season, even though he failed to save the team from relegation.

The Bluewings have also lost multiple players with Kwon Chang-hoon, Han Suk-jong and Kim Tae-hwan joining other teams after their contract expiration.

The Bluewings did sign forwards Son Suk-yong and Kim Hyun and goalkeeper Cho Sung-hoon, in addition to three 18-year-old players Lee Gun-hee, Jung Sung-min and Lim Ji-hoon last week. It is unclear how the three young players will fill the vacancy left by ex-Bluewings, however, as they have no experience in the pro league.

Whether the Bluewings can make more convincing signings until the winter transfer window that runs through March 8 remains to be seen.

The ideal result for them in the K League 2 next season will be winning the league, as only league winners earn direct promotion to the top tier.

Next season will be the first time the K League 1 will see Suwon FC competing in the top tier without local rivals Bluewings.

The 2024 K League 1 will kick off on March 1, with Suwon FC playing the season’s first match against Incheon United on March 2.

The Bluewings will play their first-ever K League 2 match on March 3 against Chungnam Asan FC.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]