Lee Min-sung took over as Daejeon Hana Citizen’s new manager in December 2020. Afterwards, Daejeon advanced to the playoffs as the third-place team in the K League 2 in 2021, beating Jeonnam and Anyang to advance to the playoffs. However, he swallowed his regret at the threshold of promotion after losing to Gangwon FC in the second round of the playoffs.
In 2022, Daejeon finished the regular season in second place in the K-League 2. In the promotion and promotion playoffs with Gimcheon Sangmu, the 11th-ranked team in the K-League, winning both the first and second games, achieving the goal of being promoted to the K-League 1 for the first time in eight years after being demoted in 2015. Manager Lee Min-seong achieved Daejeon’s promotion to the K-League 1 two years after taking office.
Daejeon, which challenged to the K-League 1 stage for the first time in eight years in the 2023 season, has emerged as a sensation by winning over powerhouses in the K-League, including FC Seoul, Ulsan Hyundai, and Jeonbuk Hyundai, early in the season by banking on its hot offensive soccer. Coach Lee Min-sung, even though he was a legendary defender of Korean soccer, played hot offensive soccer based on his theory that “to secure three points, the team must compete through offense,” which was proven through his records. Daejeon has scored 54 points, ranking third in the K-League 1 scoring list after Ulsan Hyundai and FC Seoul.
As Daejeon’s offensive soccer became a hot topic, the soccer fever also heated up. Compared to the 2022 season, the average audience increased more than six times, ranking third in the crowd ranking among all K-League clubs with 234,094 cumulative spectators and 13,005 average spectators. It rose a whopping 472% from 2,271 to 13,005 last year, signaling a leap forward of the soccer special city.
After entering the final round, Daejeon will continue its new challenge in the K League 1 next year by confirming its remaining in the top division early on in its first game against Suwon FC in round 34. Daejeon, which has settled in the top division in its first year of promotion to the K League 1, is now aiming higher. Starting with the renewal of manager Lee Min-sung’s contract, the team will accelerate its preparations for the 2024 season. 안전놀이터
“It was a very happy year thanks to our fans who gave us great support. It is regrettable that the team succeeded in staying in the top division but failed to advance to the top division. Daejeon Hana Citizen is a team with high vision and goal. Now, we have to look up to the top and move forward. Next year, we will prepare well to become a stronger and more competitive team aiming to advance to the top division and challenge to the ACL (Asian Football Confederation Champions League). We will make sure to bring joy to our fans with more wins and fun games,” Lee said.
Daejeon will have its first convocation training session in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province on Jan. 2 after a month-long break from the end of the season. The team will leave for its winter training camp in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Jan. 10 and begin to harden for the 2024 season.