Gwangju look to continue rise with newly-bolstered attack

The upcoming 2024 K League 1 will be a test for the revamped Gwangju FC as the club looks to continue their upward trajectory from last season, when they finished third and secured a ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite playoffs

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, third from right, celebrates with Gwangju FC players after the team's 2-1 win over the Suwon Samsung Bluewings at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju on June 7, 2023. [NEWS1]

The upcoming 2024 K League 1 will be a test for the revamped Gwangju FC as the southern club looks to continue their upward trajectory from last season, when they finished in third place on the 12-team table and secured a ticket to the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) playoffs.

The Gwangju FC squad has seen some changes from last year, with key midfielder Lee Soon-min and defender Aaron Calver leaving the team last month to join fellow K League 1 side Daejeon Hana Citizen.

Lee was a core part of the team’s midfield throughout last season, playing 35 league fixtures and earning a place in the K League 1’s best XI in December last year.

Calver also displayed solid form in defense and allowed the team to concede only 35 goals — the fewest in the league alongside Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors — in 38 league matches last season.

Gwangju also lost a few other players like midfielders Thomas Bedinelli and Joo Young-jae, but they brought in multiple new options to fill those vacancies.

In midfield, Choi Kyoung-rok from 2. Bundesliga team Karlsruher SC has joined the squad.

With tidy passes and good counter pressing in his arsenal, he could play a crucial role in midfield next season in lieu of Lee. Being able to play as a winger, attacking midfielder or central defensive midfielder also gives Gwangju options to diversity their tactics.

Defender Kim Jin-ho also joined the squad from Gangwon FC, in addition to forwards Joao Magno and Gabriel Tigrao from Brazil.

The signing of the two forwards came as no surprise as no Gwangju forward shone for the team last year. Jasir Asani was the team’s top scorer last season, but with just seven goals in 33 matches.

The 2024 season could be a bigger challenge for Gwangju FC, as they will have a busier schedule than last season due to the 2024-25 ACLE.

The ACLE group stages begin in September when Gwangju will be in the second half of the 2024 K League campaign.

An ACLE season runs over two calendar years, with the group stages taking place in September and knockout stage starting from March of the following year. A K League season, on the other hand, runs from February or March to December.

Gwangju could prove to be a strong contender in the ACLE as they did in the K League last year.

While the club finished in third place last season, they still saw off strong competitors like runners-up Pohang Steelers 4-2 and league champions Ulsan Hyundai, now Ulsan HD, 2-0.

Gwangju manager Lee Jung-hyo's winning influence on the team has likely only grown over the offseason as he enters his third season in charge.

In the upcoming ACLE, Gwangju will compete alongside two fellow K League 1 clubs Ulsan and Steelers.

Until the group stage matches begin in the fall, Gwangju will be in K League action starting next month.

Gwangju will play their first league match of the season at home on March 2 against FC Seoul.

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