The most prominent team in the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 is undoubtedly Gangwon FC. They are at the top of the leaderboard with 15 wins, 5 draws, and 8 losses through 29 days with 50 points. There is still a small gap between them and second-place Ulsan HD (48 points), third-place Suwon FC, and fourth-place Gimcheon Commerce (47 points), but with the momentum they have shown throughout the season, the title is not out of the question.
The driving force behind Gangwon’s leap forward under head coach Yoon Jung-hwan (51) has been the play of multiple players. Midfielder Lee Ki-hyuk (24), right fullback Hwang Mungi-Ki (28), and right back Lee Yoo-hyun (27) have played licorice-like roles regardless of position. Their performances were as good as those of main strikers Yang Min-hyuk (8 goals and 5 assists in 18-28 games) and 온라인카지노사이트 Lee Sang-heon (10 goals and 6 assists in 26-28 games).Among them, Lee’s performance should not be left out. With two assists in 25 games this season, he has helped Yoon’s tactical plans by playing all positions at the back, including his primary position of center midfielder. In the early part of the season, he played center back due to Kim Young-bin’s injury, and in the middle of the season, he switched back and forth between his natural position of central midfield and fullback.
Yoon was full of praise for the left-footed left-back, who combines skill and soccer intelligence. “(Lee) isn’t tall (184 cm) for a center back, but he doesn’t get pushed around easily when competing for the ball. His buildup and positioning were as good as I expected,” he said, giving him a thumbs-up.
“Every day is new for me,” says Lee, who is at a turning point in his career. This is the first season he has been a starter since making his debut for Suwon FC in 2021, and the first time he has played as a center back since he started playing football. His potential was recognized by former coach Paulo Bento, who surprisingly called him up to the national team in 2022, but it took a while for him to develop into a top-level player, so he is grateful for the opportunity he has now.
Now, as one of the league’s top multiplayers, he’s looking ahead with pride. “Playing midfield or fullback wasn’t too difficult for me because I’ve played in different positions since I was a kid. After playing center back, I’m proud to say that my vision of the game and my defensive skills have grown,” he laughs.
He is also eager to carry this momentum into the national team. “I can’t forget the moment when I was wearing the taegeuk mark two years ago. If I show more detailed buildup and defense than I have now, I expect to be selected again,” he said. ”For now, I will show good performance in every game while looking only at the team’s leader Suh Sung.”
