“I’m a striker, so I’m not good at defensive soccer.” (Laughs)
That’s what new Daegu FC coach Park Chang-hyun said, promising to play “attacking soccer” in the club’s return to K League 1 after 14 years.
Daegu FC announced the appointment of Park as the club’s 14th head coach in a press release on the morning of the 23rd. Daegu began the season under former coach Choi Won-kwon, who was looking to make another run at the top of the table, 바카라사이트 but was sacked after seven games due to poor results. Daegu is looking to Park to take over the reins and act as a firebrand.
This will be Park’s first time in charge in the K League 1 since 2010. Park, who was coaching the Pohang Steelers at the time, served as the team’s acting head coach for the second half of the 2010 season. Since then, he has mainly focused on developing high school and college players, meaning this is his first time as a full-time K League head coach. Park has been at the helm of Hongik University since 2017.
When the news of Park’s appointment broke, there were concerns among fans. First and foremost, the firefighters who would save the team in crisis were college coaches, not professional coaches.
Park Chang-hyun is aware of the fans’ concerns. “Of course, the fans would have wanted a more prestigious coach,” Park said in a phone call with this newspaper on the afternoon of the 23rd. I know they have little faith in me. The upcoming three-game series may be daunting, but it’s a tough test with young blood,” Park said, adding, “I’ve been around the soccer field for 14 years. I would like to ask the fans to watch and support us a little longer,” he said.
The return to the K League after 14 years is significant, but it is also noteworthy that the team is Daegu. Park was born in Daegu, and that’s where he first started playing soccer.
“When I was a coach in Pohang, Daegu was a team that brought us points,” he joked, before expressing his excitement by saying, “But these days, Daegu is considered a team that cannot be taken lightly, just like Pohang. I was overwhelmed to receive an offer from Daegu, which is considered a club with excellent infrastructure.”
So what does he envision Daegu’s soccer to look like? “The soccer I play is the same everywhere. I’m a striker, so I’m not good at defensive-oriented football,” he laughs, before adding, “I envision an attacking football like Coach Farias, who I played with in Pohang in the past. For 14 years, what I’ve taught my players is ‘speedy soccer’,” he said confidently.
It may be the best fit for Daegu, which has many young players. “We have a lot of quality players,” said Park Chang-hyun. I have a lot of experience coaching young players, so I think I have strengths in that area. Daegu is a team with more hope for the future.”
Meanwhile, Park Chang-hyun has set a goal of ‘advancing to the Final A’ after taking the helm. “It’s a long race, so there could be changes at any time,” Park said. Now that the foreign players are back, there are expectations that young players like Park Jae-hyun can make a sensation. We can go on a winning streak. It’s not a pessimistic situation yet.”
Coach Park Chang-hyun reiterated that Daegu will be different. “We don’t have any thoughts of losing,” Park said. We are planning to play a spectacular and dynamic game. Daegu’s image of ‘defense and counterattack’ has been solidified, and we need to change it a little bit.”