Daegu FC (Korean: 대구 FC) is a South Korean professional football club based in Daegu. The club was founded as a community club at the end of 2002, and made their K League 1 debut in 2003. Daegu has played mostly in the K League 1 but was relegated at the end of the 2013 season to the K League 2. They were promoted back to the top tier for the 2017 season and went on to win the Korean FA Cup in 2018, which qualified them for the 2019 AFC Champions League. The club's best season in K League 1 was in 2021, when they finished third out of twelve teams. The same year, they were also runners-up in the Korean FA Cup and progressed to the round of 16 in the 2021 AFC Champions League.

Daegu FC
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Full nameDaegu Football Club
대구시민프로축구단
Founded2002; 22 years ago (2002)
GroundDGB Daegu Bank Park
Capacity12,415
OwnerDaegu Government
ChairmanHong Joon-pyo (Daegu mayor)
Head coachPark Chang-hyun
LeagueK League 1
2023K League 1, 6th of 12
Websitehttp://www.daegufc.co.kr

History

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Foundation

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Daegu FC was established in 2002 as a community club (generally in South Korea, a "community-club" means that the club issues shares) based in the city of Daegu. The city is a key shareholder, and the current mayor is chairman of the club. Following their foundation, the club entered the 2003 season of the K League under manager Park Jong-hwan. Park had previously managed the national side for a number years in the 1980s and 1990s. The club's entry, together with that of Gwangju Sangmu, brought the number of teams participating in the league to 12.

Domestic competitions

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Daegu finished the 2003 K League season in 11th place (out of 12 teams), winning seven games, and drawing sixteen. In the 2003 Korean FA Cup, Daegu reached the quarterfinals, where they were defeated 1–0 by Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i. Daegu improved in 2004 to tenth place in the league which, due to Incheon United's entry, now numbered 13 clubs. In the FA Cup, Daegu were knocked out in the round of 32 by National League side Ansan Hallelujah. In the Samsung Hauzen Cup, a new cup competition run as a league competition specifically for K League clubs (thus excluding National League and lower-tier clubs) during the K League's mid-season break, finished eighth out of 13 teams. The following season saw Daegu placed eighth place in the league and seventh in the Samsung Hauzen Cup. In the FA Cup, after defeating University and National League sides, Daegu were knocked out in the quarterfinals in a 2–1 loss to another K League side, the Chunnam Dragons.

For the 2006 K League season, the club placed seventh overall in the league and was 13th in Samsung Hauzen Cup. It reached the quarterfinals of the 2006 edition of the FA Cup but lost (again) to the Chunnam Dragons. Following completion of the 2006 season, Park Jong-hwan stepped down as manager after four years with the club. On 1 December 2006, Byun Byung-joo was appointed as the new manager.[1] A former South Korean international, Byun had no previous K League management experience prior to his appointment as Daegu FC's manager. The club's performance slipped in comparison to its previous two seasons, and it placed 12th. The club failed to get out of the group stage in the 2007 Samsung Hauzen Cup and achieved a similar level of performance in the FA Cup, where Daegu lost to Incheon United in the round of 16.

In 2008, Daegu played extremely aggressive football, becoming the joint equal top-scoring team of the K League, alongside Suwon Samsung Bluewings. However, they also conceded the most goals in the league. An 11th place in the K League standings was the eventual outcome. For the first time in its history, Daegu reached the semi-finals of the Korean FA Cup, by defeating Ulsan in the quarterfinals, following a win in the round of 16 over Ansan Hallelujah. However, they then lost to their opponents Pohang Steelers in a 2–0 loss. The club placed fifth (out of six teams) in their group in the Samsung Hauzen Cup.

The 2009 season was one of the worst in the club's history. In a now expanded league of 15 clubs, thanks to new entrant Gangwon FC, Daegu would place in the last, 15th place, winning only five games. In the FA Cup, Daegu reached the quarterfinals, against Daejeon Citizen, the game finished with a 1–1 scoreline. Daegu lost out in the subsequent penalty shootout. In the league cup, now known as the Peace Cup Korea 2009, the club finished third in their group, one point away from qualifying for the knockout phase of the cup. Later in the year, Lee Young-jin was appointed as manager for the 2010 season.[2] Lee, who has previously coached FC Seoul, replaced Byun who had resigned after being embroiled in a scandal involving a player's agent and payoffs for selecting specific players.[3]

On field, Daegu repeated their dismal performances of the previous season, finishing 15th in the K League standings, equal with Gwangju Sangmu on points. Daegu conceded the most goals of any club in the league, losing 19 games out of 28 games, with five wins and four draws. In the FA Cup, Daegu lost 1–0 after extra time to the National League side Suwon City. Better results were achieved in the League Cup, with Daegu progressing out of their group to the knockout stage, thanks to wins over Daejeon Citizen and Busan, before losing to FC Seoul after a penalty shootout.

By virtue of winning the 2018 Korean FA Cup, Daegu qualified for its first appearance in the 2019 AFC Champions League.[4]

After a controversial fall out with the club's executive director, Cho Kwang-Rae, its manager, André, left Daegu FC on January 27, 2020.[5] On February 5, 2020, the club announced Lee Byung-keun, who had joined the club as the chief assistant coach at the beginning of 2019 season, as a caretaker manager to lead the club in the upcoming 2020 K League 1 season.[6]

International competitions

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Prior to the start of the 2006 K League season, Daegu participated in the Tongyeong Cup. The Tongyeong Cup was a four-team invitational tournament held in Tongyeong, South Korea. As well as Daegu and fellow K League club Incheon United, A-League side Queensland Roar and Beijing Guo'an were also part of the tournament. After beating both Incheon and Beijing, Daegu drew 0–0 with Queensland, winning the Tongyeong Cup and thus its first trophy.[7]

In 2019, the club played in the 2019 AFC Champions League, and for the group stage was placed with Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Guangzhou Evergrande and Melbourne Victory. Despite having the lowest wage bill of all the K-League clubs, it won its first game, against Melbourne Victory.[8] It went on to win two more games in the group stage but failed to progress to the knockout phase.

Stadium

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The club's first home ground, Daegu Stadium (formerly Daegu World Cup Stadium), was opened on 28 June 2001 and is owned by the Daegu Metropolitan City. The stadium was one of the venues for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, hosting three group games, as well the 2002 FIFA World Cup play-off game for third place between South Korea and Turkey. Daegu FC used the stadium as their main venue between 2003 and 2018. The stadium has 66,422 seats, and it is covered by natural grass.[9] The name was changed to Daegu Stadium on 5 March 2008. Occasionally, Daegu FC played its home games at the Daegu Civic Stadium.

In the 2019 season, Daegu FC relocated to the DGB Daegu Bank Park, a 12,415 capacity football-specific stadium built at the same location as the demolished Daegu Civic Stadium.[10]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 15 July 2023[11]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   KOR Choi Young-eun
2 DF   KOR Hwang Jae-won
3 DF   KOR Ahn Chang-min
5 MF   KOR Jang Seong-won
6 DF   KOR Hong Jeong-un
7 DF   KOR Kim Jin-hyuk
9 FW   BRA Edgar
11 FW   BRA Cesinha (captain)
13 MF   BRA Victor Bobsin (on loan from Santa Clara)
14 MF   KOR Park Sae-jin
15 DF   KOR Lee Won-woo
16 FW   KOR Jeon Young-jun
17 MF   KOR Go Jae-hyeon
18 DF   JPN Keita Suzuki
19 FW   KOR Kim Young-jun
20 DF   KOR Kim Gang-san
21 GK   KOR Oh Seung-hoon (vice-captain)
22 FW   KOR Lee Keun-ho (vice-captain)
25 FW   KOR Seo Do-hyub
26 MF   KOR Lee Jin-yong
27 FW   KOR Kim Dong-hyun
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 MF   KOR Choi Min-ki
29 DF   KOR Park Jae-hyeon
30 FW   KOR Park Yong-hui
31 GK   KOR Han Tae-hui
33 DF   KOR Hong Chul
34 DF   KOR Son Seung-woo
35 DF   KOR Yoon Tae-min
36 MF   KOR Kim Hee-seung
37 FW   KOR Lee Jong-hoon
38 MF   KOR Bae Soo-min
39 DF   KOR Park Jae-kyung
40 FW   KOR Shin Han-gyeol
42 DF   KOR Jung Yoon-seo
43 DF   KOR Yoo Ji-un
44 DF   KOR Kim Ri-gwan
51 GK   KOR Han Ji-yul
66 DF   KOR Jo Jin-woo
74 MF   KOR Lee Yong-rae
88 GK   KOR Lee Jun-hee
99 FW   BRA Lucas Barcellos

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   KOR Jung Chi-in (to Gimcheon Sangmu for military service)

Retired number(s)

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12Club Supporters (the 12th Man)
24Park Jong-jin

Captains

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Season Captain
2003   Oh Ju-po
2003   Kim Hak-chul
2004   Roh Sang-rae
2005   Jin Soon-jin
2005   Song Jung-hyun
2006   Lee Sang-il
2006–07   Kim Hyun-soo
2008   Hwang Sun-pil
2009   Jang Nam-seok
2010   Bang Dae-jong
2011   Back Min-chul
2012–13   Yoo Kyoung-youl
2014   An Sang-hyun
2015   Heo Jae-won
2016   Park Tae-hong
2017–19   Han Hee-hoon
2020   Hong Jeong-un
2021–2022   Kim Jin-hyuk
2022–present   Cesinha

R-League

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From 2008 to 2011, Daegu FC fielded a team in the R-League, established in 2000 for the reserve squads of the professional K-League clubs. The National Policy Agency also entered a team in the league. The league format provided for two groups of teams (six to eight in each group), each group member playing the others in the group, three or four times, depending on the number of teams in the groups.[12] The top two teams in each group moved onto a playoff round although from 2010, the title was shared between the winners of each group.

In 2008, Daegu placed 7th out of the 8 teams in their group, winning three of 18 games. They fared little better in 2009, finishing last in their group of five teams. In 2010, Daegu's reserve squad only won one of their group games, while they drew two, and lost 11 times. The side's return of 5 points saw it place 8th and last in their group. In 2011, the club improved to 5th in its group, with eight wins. It did not enter the 2012 edition of the competition.

U-18 (Hyunpung High School) squad

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In 2008, Daegu FC established an under-18 side, to act as a development squad for the men's team. This is essentially Hyunpung High School's senior football team,[13][14] and as of 2009, plays in the U-18 Challenge League. The side is managed by former Daegu FC player Kim Hyun-soo.

Club officials

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Coaching staff[15]

List of managers

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No. Name From To Season(s)
1   Park Jong-hwan 2002/10/09 2006/11/05 2003–2006
2   Byun Byung-joo[1] 2006/11/28 2009/12/07 2007–2009
3   Lee Young-jin[2] 2009/12/22 2011/10/31 2010–2011
4   Moacir Pereira 2011/11/02 2012/12/01 2012
5   Dang Sung-jeung 2012/12/03 2013/04/20 2013
6   Baek Jong-chul 2013/04/23 2013/11/30 2013
7   Choi Deok-ju 2013/12/20 2014/11/18 2014
8   Lee Young-jin 2014/11/24 2016/08/12 2015–2016
C   Son Hyun-jun 2016/08/13 2016/11/21 2016
9 2016/11/22 2017/05/22 2017
C   André 2017/05/23 2017/11/15 2017
10 2017/11/16 2020/01/28 2017–2019
C   Lee Byung-keun 2020/01/30 2020/11/05 2020
11 2020/11/06 2021/12/20 2021
12   Alexandre Gama 2021/12/22 2022/08/14 2022
C   Choi Won-kwon 2022/08/15 2022/11/07 2022
13 2022/11/07 2024/04/19 2023–2024
14   Park Chang-hyun 2024/04/23 present 2024–

Honours

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League

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Runners-up (1): 2016

Cups

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Winners (1): 2018
Runners-up (1): 2021

Season-by-season records

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Domestic record

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Season League FA Cup
Div. GP W D L GF GA GD Pts Pos.
2003 1 44 7 16 21 38 60 –22 37 11 QF
2004 24 7 7 10 30 31 –1 28 10 Ro32
2005 24 8 6 10 30 29 +1 30 8 QF
2006 26 8 10 8 32 30 +2 34 7 QF
2007 26 6 6 14 35 46 –11 24 12 Ro16
2008 26 8 2 16 46 58 –12 26 11 SF
2009 28 5 8 15 20 45 –25 23 15 QF
2010 28 5 4 19 28 57 –29 19 15 Ro32
2011 30 8 9 13 35 46 –11 33 12 Ro32
2012 44 16 13 15 55 56 –1 61 10 Ro16
2013 38 6 14 18 36 57 –21 32 13↓ Ro32
2014 2 36 13 8 15 50 47 +3 47 7 Ro32
2015 40 18 13 9 67 47 +20 67 3 Ro32
2016 40 19 13 8 53 36 +17 70 2↑ Ro32
2017 1 38 11 14 13 50 52 –2 47 8 Ro32
2018 38 14 8 16 47 56 –9 50 7 W
2019 38 13 16 9 46 37 +9 55 5 Ro16
2020 27 10 8 9 43 39 +4 38 5 Ro16
2021 38 15 10 13 41 48 –7 55 3 RU
2022 38 10 16 12 52 59 –7 46 8 SF
2023 38 13 14 11 42 43 –1 53 6 Ro16
Key
  • W = Winners
  • RU = Runners-up
  • SF = Semi-final
  • QF = Quarter-final
  • Ro16 = Round of 16
  • Ro32 = Round of 32

AFC Champions League record

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All results list Daegu's goal tally first.

Season Round Opposition Home Away Aggregate
2019 Group stage (Group F)   Melbourne Victory 4–0 3–1 3rd
  Guangzhou Evergrande 3–1 0–1
  Sanfrecce Hiroshima 0–1 0–2
2021 Group stage (Group I)[a]   Kawasaki Frontale 1–3 2–3 2nd
  United City 7–0 4–0
  Beijing Guoan 5–0 3–0
Round of 16   Nagoya Grampus 2–4
2022 Play-off   Buriram United 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 pen.)
Group stage (Group F)[a]   Shandong Taishan 4–0 7–0 1st
  Lion City Sailors 0–3 2–1
  Urawa Red Diamonds 1–0 0–0
Round of 16   Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–2 (a.e.t.)[a]
  1. ^ a b c Played at a neutral venue.

Sponsors

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Kit manufacturer

References

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  1. ^ a b "대구FC, 변병주 現청구고 감독을 새 사령탑으로 확정" (in Korean). Naver. 2006-11-28. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  2. ^ a b "대구FC 제 3대 감독에 이영진 감독선임". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2009-12-22. Archived from the original on 2012-03-27.
  3. ^ "Sports agent scandal taints Daegu FC manager". Korea JoongAng Daily. 2009-12-09. Archived from the original on 2011-01-23. Retrieved 2010-06-07.
  4. ^ Duerden, John (3 March 2019). "Asia awaits again for K League clubs". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  5. ^ "대구FC, 안드레 감독과 이별". Daegu FC. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  6. ^ "대구FC, 이병근 감독대행 체제로 2020시즌 치른다". Daegu FC. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  7. ^ 대구 통영컵 우승. sportsseoul.com (in Korean). Naver. 2006-02-28. Archived from the original on 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  8. ^ Duerden, John (10 March 2019). "Daegu FC basking in international spotlight". The Korea Times. Archived from the original on 15 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  9. ^ 대구스타디움 (in Korean). Daegu Sports Facilities Management Center. 2006-01-25. Archived from the original on 2022-07-26. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
  10. ^ "프로축구 대구FC 전용구장 `DGB 아레나` 완공…1만2천석 규모". Maeil Business Newspaper (in Korean). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  11. ^ "프로선수단". daegufc.co.kr (in Korean). Daegu FC. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  12. ^ "2010년 R-리그 개막". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2010-03-23. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  13. ^ "대구FC U-18(고교축구)팀, 현풍고등학교 선정". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2008-08-12. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  14. ^ "대구FC 직영 U-18팀 현풍고 축구부 창단식". Daegu FC. 2009-02-18. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  15. ^ "Staff". daegufc.co.kr (in Korean). Daegu FC. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
  16. ^ "대구FC – KAPPA코리아 용품후원 조인식". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2003-02-05. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  17. ^ "대구FC, 호마와 용품계약". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2004-02-06. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  18. ^ "대구FC-키카 용품후원계약". Daegu FC (in Korean). 2005-01-11. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22.
  19. ^ "대구FC 로또(Lotto)와 용품 후원계약 체결". Daegu FC (in Korean). Naver. 2006-11-10. Archived from the original on 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  20. ^ "대구FC 출정식 및 JOMA(조마) 조인식". Daegu FC (in Korean). Naver. 2009-02-25.
  21. ^ "Goal Studio firma i kit del Daegu FC per la stagione 2021". goal.com (in Italian). 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
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