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K League champion's new coach calls for year 1 title win

Published: 26 Feb. 2026, 13:36 Updated: 26 Feb. 2026, 14:06

Chung Jung-yong, head coach of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, speaks during the K League 1 season-opening media day at Swiss Grand Hotel Seoul in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, on Feb. 25. [YONHAP]

Chung Jung-yong, new head coach for the defending Korean football champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, made his goal for his first season loud and clear Wednesday.

"I will grab a new star," Chung said during the K League 1 season-opening media day in Seoul, referring to the symbol that gets added to a team's kits after a championship season.

The Hyundai Motors have more stars than any team in the top Korean league after winning their 10th crown in 2025. They did so under first-year boss Gus Poyet, who also led the Motors to the Korea Cup title for a domestic double before stepping down in December.

Chung, who previously coached the military club Gimcheon Sangmu FC, will have a tough act to follow, but he insisted he will be ready.

The management tried to help out the new coach by making some big acquisitions, including former K League 2 scoring champion Bruno Mota.

"To accomplish our goal, we must have the upper hand on other clubs in title contention," Chung said.

Though Chung didn't identify those rivals, he might as well have referred to Daejeon Hana Citizen FC. They were the distant runners-up to the Hyundai Motors last year, finishing 14 points back, but have shored up their squad in hopes of dethroning the Motors this year.

"I have to be wary of every team, but I want to get the better of Jeonbuk in particular," the Hana Citizens' head coach Hwang Sun-hong said. "We've not played well against them. First, we want to play well in our season opener against FC Anyang, and then we will begin preparing for our matches against Jeonbuk."

Many of Hwang's rival coaches picked the Hana Citizens as the favorite this season.

Gangwon FC head coach Chung Kyung-ho said the Hana Citizens' spending spree is good for the rest of the league.

"We need more clubs to spend money on players and become competitive," Chung said. "They've been making some big investments in Daejeon, and more aggressive spending will lead to a better league."

Park Tae-ha, head coach of the Pohang Steelers and a close friend of Hwang's, chimed in: "I think Daejeon will be in the mix for a title. Coach Hwang will be under some pressure, but that is part of the job."

Yonhap