Teams in the bottom half of professional soccer’s K League Two this season have parted ways with managers in their first season in charge.
Seoul Eland announced on Tuesday that it has terminated the contract of head coach Park Chung-gyun, 50, by mutual consent.
Park, who previously served as head coach of Hanoi FC in Vietnam, coach of the Vietnam national team, and coach of the K League 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai, was appointed to the helm of the club last November on a three-year contract, but stepped down after just one season.
Lee Land finished 11th in the K League 2 regular season with 35 points from 10 wins, five draws and 21 losses.
Park said through the club, “I want to thank and apologize to the fans who supported us at home and away. I worked hard for a season to build a good team, but I’m upset as a coach because I didn’t succeed,” Park said in a statement.
He continued, “I’m sorry to leave without saying goodbye to the fans. I sincerely thank the fans for their support throughout the season and wish the Seoul Eland the best for the future.”
The club said it will appoint a successor as soon as possible to prepare for the 2024 season.
Cheonan City FC, which finished 13th in the bottom of the K League 2 this season (5 wins, 10 draws, 21 losses and 25 points), also announced the termination of its coach Park Nam-yeol (53) on the same day.
Park, who previously led the WK League’s Daekyo and women’s national soccer teams, took over as the first coach of Cheonan, which made its professional debut this season, but left the club after a difficult first season.
Technical advisor Park Kyung-hoon of the K League 2 Busan I-Park has been touted as a possible successor, but Park publicly expressed his displeasure when the news of Park’s appointment became public before the end of the season. 슬롯게이밍
