Daegu FC tap Park Chang-hyun to lead club days after ex-boss resigns

Daegu FC manager Park Chang-hyun poses in a photo shared by the club on Tuesday. [DAEGU FC]

Daegu FC have appointed Park Chang-hyun as their new manager, the club announced Tuesday, days after former manager Choi Won-kwon resigned following a poor start to the 2024 K League 1 season.

Daegu, who finished in sixth place on the 12-team table last season, sit in 10th place with one win, four draws and three losses as of Tuesday.

Choi resigned Friday ahead of the club's goalless draw against last-place Daejeon Hana Citizen on Sunday.

Park, 57, joins Daegu after spending seven years with the Hongik University football team.

He also has experience in the K League, having worked as an assistant coach at the Pohang Steelers from 2008 to 2010, serving as interim manager for seven months during the 2010 season.

After his time at the Steelers, he coached the Jeongmyung High School football team from 2011 to 2012.

“As head coach Park is a veteran manager with 27 years of ample experience on the pitch from high school to pro, we judged that he is a manager capable of understanding the current situation that the club is in and overcoming it,” Daegu said in a statement posted to Instagram on Tuesday.

Daegu is the second K League team Park has taken charge of.

“I am proud to take the helm of Daegu,” Park said in the statement. “I am confident that my experience on the pitch is second to none. My objective is to lead the squad stably to a high place in a difficult situation, and I’ll do my best to be in Final A.”

In the K League 1, 12 teams are divided into two groups — the so-called “Final A” and “Final B” — for the final leg of the season. The top six teams will compete for the league title, while the bottom six will fight to avoid relegation in five remaining league games.

Daegu will play their next league match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Jeonju World Cup Stadium in Jeonju, North Jeolla on April 28.

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