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Gwangju FC ends speculation, retains head coach Lee Jung-hyo for 2025 season

Published: 25 Dec. 2024, 09:59

Gwangju FC manager Lee Jung-hyo looks on during a K League 1 match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors at Gwangju Football Stadium in Gwangju on Nov. 24. [YONHAP]

Gwangju FC announced Tuesday they will bring back head coach Lee Jung-hyo for the 2025 K League 1 season, retaining the highly respected tactician after weeks of speculation over his departure.

Without disclosing financial details of the new deal, Gwangju said they will task Lee with taking the club to a higher place next year.

Lee, 49, was named Gwangju 's bench boss ahead of the 2022 season while they were still in the second-tier K League 2. They went on to earn direct promotion to the K League 1 by capturing the K League 2 title and did so with a league-record 86 points.

In their first season back in the top competition in 2023, Gwangju finished in third place with 59 points, and Lee earned praise for bringing out the best in a club with a modest budget and talent.

This year, Gwangju managed 47 points to finish in ninth place. However, they have excelled in the 2024-25 AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) tournament so far, with 13 points from four wins, one draw and one loss putting them in second place in the league stage. With two matches remaining in the early phase, Gwangju are poised to qualify for the round of 16 scheduled for March 2025.

After the 2024 K League 1 season ended, Lee was linked to the head coaching vacancy at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, nine-time K League 1 champions coming off a disappointing season.

Earlier Tuesday, Jeonbuk said former Sunderland and Greece men's national team boss Gus Poyet will be their new head coach, and Gwangju's announcement of their new deal with Lee followed hours later.

"We will try to settle things down after dealing with rumors surrounding coach Lee's status," Gwangju said in a statement. "We will ratchet up our preparation for the 2025 season and the remaining matches at the ACLE."

Gwangju are set to open winter training camp in Thailand on Jan. 3. Their first official match of the new year will be Feb. 11 against Shandong Taishan, their seventh league phase match of the ACLE.

Yonhap