Jeju United manager Nam Ki-il resigns after winless streak in K League

Former Jeju United manager speaks during a press conference held at Hotel Bareve in Seogwipo, Jeju on Feb. 7. [YONHAP]

Jeju United manager Nam Ki-il has resigned after failing to secure a win in the past five league fixtures, despite having only two months left in the 2023 K League season.

Jeju announced through social media on Tuesday that Nam stepped down as manager after three years in charge and thanked him for his efforts during his spell.

“He took a heavy responsibility at a difficult time and brought the results while leading the team strongly at times and cordially at other times,” Jeju said in a statement.

Nam first took the helm in 2020 when Jeju was in the second division and promoted the team to the K League 1 that year. He continued that success in the following years, managing a fourth-place finish in the 2021 season and fifth in 2022.

He struggled this season, however, taking nine wins, eight draws and 14 losses to sit in ninth place with 35 points on the 12-team table as of Tuesday.

Ulsan hold on to comfortable lead despite winless run

Since their 3-0 victory over Suwon FC on Aug. 12, Jeju lost four league matches and secured one draw.

Seven league fixtures remain for Jeju and they have to bounce back in the remaining games to avoid the promotion-relegation playoff. The last-place team is relegated automatically while the 10th and 11th spots enter matches against two K League 2 clubs to determine whether they'll remain in the first division or be booted to the second.

Jeju appointed assistant coach Jung Jo-gook as interim manager following Nam’s resignation.

Jung played for multiple K League teams as a player in the 2010s until he retired at Jeju in 2020. He has worked as an assistant coach since 2021.

Jung will head his first game as interim manager when Jeju plays third-place Gwangju FC on Sunday at home.

He'll also face a test in the Korean FA Cup as Jeju is set to meet the Pohang Steelers in the semifinals in November.

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