| Ulsan Hyundai’s new coach Hong Myung-bo expresses his aspirations at an online press conference held at the Ulsan Hyundai Club House in Dong-gu, Ulsan on the afternoon of the 7th. 2021.1.7/News1 © News1 Reporter Ilji Yoon |
Korean football’s’eternal captain’ coach Hong Myung-bo makes his first appearance in the K-League with the Ulsan Hyundai baton. Manager Hong Myung-bo’s priority is to plant’winning mentality’ in the team that missed the league championship in front of the eyes for two consecutive years.
On the 24th of last month, coach Hong Myung-bo, who was elected as the 11th command tower in Ulsan, threw an excerpt saying, “This year’s goal is to win the K League” at an inauguration press conference held online on the 7th.
Ulsan, which has recently been reborn as a top K-League team with aggressive player recruitment, won the Asian Football Federation (AFC) Champions League last year, ending 2020 successfully.
However, there was also a regret left in the corner of my heart. Ulsan, who has not won the K-League title in 2005 and has not won the championship for 15 years, showed a good appearance in the K-League last season with the least loss (4 losses) and the most goals (+31), but was pushed to Jeonbuk Hyundai to stay in runner-up. It was the second consecutive year following 2019.
In particular, he lost all three matches against Jeonbuk Hyundai and gave it to the championship.
Director Hong Myung-bo was also aware of the regrets of Ulsan fans. Coach Hong emphasized that “I am well aware of the thirst that Ulsan has not won in the K-League for 15 years since 2005,” and that “this year’s goal is to win” at the first appearance in front of Ulsan fans.
Director Hong pointed out the problem of Ulsan, which ended in runner-up for the second consecutive year, as a lack of’winning mentality’. Coach Hong said, “Ulsan couldn’t win an important hurdle last year. We should have competed in the game with confidence in the game, but this was less than that of Jeonbuk,” said “The value of a professional player through dialogue with players regarding winning mentality, I will talk about responsibility.”
‘Winning Mentality’ is one of the elements necessary to win in the league schedule, which requires a race for about 9 months. The reason that Jeonbuk surpassed Ulsan last season was able to reach the top because of the team atmosphere and spirit of’winning mentality’.
Director Hong Myung-bo is considered the right person to fill the winning mentality in Ulsan. When he was a player, he was a captain in the national team for a long time and showed outstanding leadership, and at the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, he made it to the semifinals. After debuting as a leader, he won a bronze medal for the first time in Korean football history at the 2012 London Olympics.
Coach Myung-bo Hong, who has had experience as a player and leader in big international competitions, knows better than anyone how to motivate players. Director Hong Myung-bo also expressed his ambition, saying, “I will try to help Ulsan by utilizing my know-how and experience.”
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