Suwon Samsung Bluewings

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Korean: 수원 삼성 블루윙즈 FC) are a South Korean football club based in Suwon that competes in the K League 2, the second tier of South Korean football. Founded in December 1995, they have won the K League on four occasions (1998, 1999, 2004 and 2008), as well as the Asian Club Championship twice, in 2000–01 and 2001–02.

Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Full nameSuwon Samsung Bluewings Football Club
수원 삼성 블루윙즈 축구단
Nickname(s)Cheong-Baek-Jeok
Korean: 청백적
(The Blue, White and Reds)
Tricolor
Founded1995; 29 years ago (1995)
GroundSuwon World Cup Stadium
Capacity44,031
OwnerCheil Worldwide
ChairmanLee Jun
Head coachByun Sung-hwan
LeagueK League 2
2024K League 2, 6th of 13
Websitehttp://www.bluewings.kr
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Hangul
수원 삼성 블루윙즈
Hanja
水原三星 블루윙즈
Revised RomanizationSuwon Samseong Beulluwingjeu
McCune–ReischauerSuwŏn Samsŏng Pŭlluwingjŭ

History

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The club was officially founded in December 1995 by Samsung Electronics, becoming the ninth member of the K League from the 1996 season. It was also the first club to be founded in one specific city, a plan which led to the K-League initiating plans to encourage its other clubs to forge similar links with local communities.

Former South Korean national team manager Kim Ho took charge of the side from their first season in the K-League, and the team finished runners-up in the championship play-off that season. The championship was secured in 1998 and retained in 1999 as Suwon started to dominate Korean football.

Suwon lifted the Asian Club Championship twice in succession in 2000–01 and 2001–02, and also added the Asian Super Cup to their roll of honors on two occasions.

In the 2002 season, Suwon also won the Korean FA Cup for the first time, achieving a continental double.

The departure of Kim Ho in 2003 saw Korean football legend Cha Bum-kun appointed manager ahead of the 2004 season, and the club won its third league title in his debut season as manager.

Suwon finished runners-up in both major domestic competitions in 2006, as Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma claimed victory in the K-League championship play-off final and Chunnam Dragons won in the FA Cup final, thwarting Suwon's attempts to win the first ever domestic double in South Korean football.

The 2008 season became one of the most successful seasons in the club's history. Suwon achieved a domestic double by winning the K League Championship and the League Cup.

In the 2023 season, the club was relegated to the second-tier K League 2 for the first time in its history after finishing in last place.[1][2]

Crest and colours

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Crest

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The Hwaseong Fortress

The current crest has been used by the Bluewings since 2008. It depicts the Hwaseong Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a prominent symbol of the city of Suwon. The wing on the top of the crest is the club's first crest and symbolises their will to rise to the sky [sic] of world football.

Colours

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The Bluewings' colours are blue, red and white. Blue is the colour of Samsung and also symbolises youth and hope. Red is the symbol of bravery, passion, challenge, vitality and dynamism. White represents benevolence, purity and fair play.

Stadium

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A view of the Suwon World Cup Stadium

The Suwon Samsung Bluewings used the 11,808-seat Suwon Sports Complex as their home stadium from 1995 through 2001.

Samsung began building the Suwon World Cup Stadium, the current home of the Bluewings, in 1996, but construction stopped in 1998 due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis. With the support of the city of Suwon and Gyeonggi Province, the stadium was completed in May 2001. It was used as a venue for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Based on the shape of the roof of the stadium, fans sometimes call the stadium the "Big Bird".

The Bluewings' training ground is located in Dongtan, a district of Hwaseong.

Supporters

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Supporters at Suwon World Cup Stadium

The Frente Tricolor is the official Suwon Samsung Bluewings supporters group.

The club's official theme song is "My Love, My Suwon" by the South Korean punk rock band No Brain. It is based on the song "Little Baby", released in 2003, and Suwon fans sang it by changing the lyrics.[3][4]

Players

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Current squad

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As of 13 May 2024[5]

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 Cho Sung-hoon
2 DF   KOR Jang Seok-hwan
3 DF   KOR Jang Ho-ik
5 DF   KOR Han Ho-gang
6 MF   KOR Yoo Je-ho
7 FW   KOR Kim Hyun
8 MF   KOR Park Sang-hyuk
9 FW   SRB Fejsal Mulić
10 FW   KOR Jeon Jin-woo
11 MF   MLI Aboubacar Ibrahima Toungara
12 FW   KOR Choi Ji-mook
13 MF   KOR Kim Bo-kyung
14 MF   JPN Kazuki Kozuka (vice-captain)
16 MF   KOR Lee Jong-sung (vice-captain)
17 FW   KOR Kim Kyung-jung
19 FW   KOR Seo Dong-han
20 DF   KOR Cho Yoon-sung
21 GK   KOR Yang Hyung-mo (captain)
22 MF   KOR Kim Sang-jun
23 DF   KOR Lee Ki-je
25 MF   KOR Choi Sung-keun
No. Pos. Nation Player
27 DF   KOR Lee Si-young
29 FW   KOR Lee Sang-min
30 DF   KOR Baek Dong-kyu
31 GK   KOR Lee Seong-ju
34 GK   KOR Park Ji-min
35 DF   KOR Kwak Sung-hoon
36 MF   KOR Myung Jun-jae
37 FW   KOR Kim Ju-chan
39 DF   KOR Min Sang-gi
42 MF   KOR Lim Hyun-sub
45 DF   KOR Hwang Myung-hyun
47 MF   KOR Park Seung-soo
50 DF   KOR Ko Jong-hyun
55 MF   KOR Im Ji-hoon
72 DF   KOR Lee Geon-hee
74 DF   KOR Jung Sung-min
77 DF   KOR Son Ho-jun
90 FW   KOR Park Hee-jun
91 MF   KOR Kim Seong-ju
96 FW   KOR Koo Min-seo
99 FW   KOR Son Seok-yong

Club captains

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Yeom Ki-hun is the most capped player and top goalscorer in the club's history.
Year Captains Vice-captain(s)
1996   Kim Doo-ham   Yoon Sung-hyo
1997   Shin Sung-hwan
1998   Jung Sung-hoon
1999   Shin Hong-gi
2000
2001   Park Kun-ha
2002   Seo Jung-won
2003   Kim Jin-woo   Lee Woon-jae
2004   Lee Byung-keun   Kim Young-sun
2005   Choi Sung-yong   Kim Dae-eui
2006   Kim Nam-il   Cho Jae-min
2007   Lee Kwan-woo   Lee Jung-soo
2008   Song Chong-gug   Kwak Hee-ju
2009   Lee Woon-jae   Hong Soon-hak
2010   Cho Won-hee   Kim Dae-eui
2011   Choi Sung-kuk   Yeom Ki-hun
2012   Kwak Hee-ju   Oh Beom-seok
2013   Kim Do-heon   Oh Jang-eun
2014   Yeom Ki-hun
2015   Kim Eun-sun
2016   Hong Chul, Shin Se-gye
2017   Koo Ja-ryong, Lee Jong-sung
2018   Kim Eun-sun
2019   Yeom Ki-hun   Choi Sung-keun, Hong Chul
2020   Choi Sung-keun, Kim Min-woo
2021   Kim Min-woo   Min Sang-gi
2022   Min Sang-gi   Choi Sung-keun
2023   Lee Ki-je   Ko Seung-beom
2024   Yang Hyung-mo   Kazuki Kozuka,   Lee Jong-sung

Notable players

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Hall of Fame[6]
  Seo Jung-won (1999–2004)
  Park Kun-ha (1996–2006)
  Lee Woon-jae (1996–2011)
  Lee Byung-keun (1996–2006)
  Kim Jin-woo (1996–2007)
  Ko Jong-soo (1996–2004)
  Denis Laktionov (1996–2003, 2006–2007)
  Sandro (2000–2002, 2005–2007)
  Nádson (2003–2008)
  Kwak Hee-ju (2003–2013, 2015–2016)
  Natanael Santos (2013–2017)
  Yang Sang-min (2007–2022)
  Yeom Ki-hun (2010–2023)
Greatest ever team (10th anniversary)

In the spring of 2005, as part of the club's celebration of its 10th anniversary, Suwon fans voted for the best players in the club's history. The players who received the most votes in each position were named in the club's greatest ever team.[7]

  Lee Woon-jae (1996–2011)
  Park Kun-ha (1996–2006)
  Choi Sung-yong (2002–2006)
  Lee Byung-keun (1996–2006)
  Ko Jong-soo (1996–2004)
  Denis Laktionov (1996–2003, 2006–2007)
  Kim Do-heon (2001–2005, 2009–2014)
  Seo Jung-won (1999–2004)
  Kim Jin-woo (1996–2007)
  Nádson (2003–2008)
  Saša Drakulić (1998–2000)
Greatest ever team (20th anniversary)

In the spring of 2015, as part of the club's celebration of its 20th anniversary, Suwon fans voted for the best players in the club's history. The players who received the most votes in each position were named in the club's greatest ever team.[8]

  Lee Woon-jae (1996–2011)
  Choi Sung-yong (2002–2006)
  Mato Neretljak (2005–2008, 2011)
  Lee Byung-keun (1996–2006)
  Kwak Hee-ju (2003–2013, 2015–2016)
  Denis Laktionov (1996–2003, 2006–2007)
  Ko Jong-soo (1996–2004)
  Kim Jin-woo (1996–2007)
  Seo Jung-won (1999–2004)
  Park Kun-ha (1996–2006)
  Nádson (2003–2008)

Honours

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Suwon Samsung Bluewings players celebrating after winning the 2008 K League

Domestic

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International

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Record

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Season Division Teams League Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts League Cup FA Cup Super Cup AFC Other Manager
1996 1 9 Runners-up 32 18 9 5 57 33 +24 63 6th (A) Runners-up   Kim Ho
1997 10 5th 18 7 7 4 23 23 0 28 6th (A)
3rd (P)
Quarter-final Runners-up (CW)   Kim Ho
1998 10 Champions 20 13 1 6 34 22 +12 35 6th (A)
4th (PM)
Quarter-final   Kim Ho
1999 10 Champions 29 23 0 6 60 26 +34 64 Winners (A)
Winners (D)
1st round Winners 4th (CC)   Kim Ho
2000 10 5th 27 14 0 13 48 43 +5 36 Winners (A)
8th (D)
Quarter-final Winners   Kim Ho
2001 10 3rd 27 12 5 10 40 35 +5 41 Winners (A) 1st round Champions (CC)
Winners (SC)
  Kim Ho
2002 10 3rd 27 12 9 6 40 26 +14 45 4th (A) Winners Champions (CC)
Winners (SC)
  Kim Ho
2003 12 3rd 44 19 15 10 59 46 +13 72 No competition Round of 32 No competition   Kim Ho
2004 13 Champions 27 14 6 7 32 24 +8 46 4th (S) Round of 16   Cha Bum-kun
2005 13 10th 24 6 10 8 29 32 –3 28 Winners (S) Round of 16 Winners Winners (A3)
Group E 2nd (CL)
  Cha Bum-kun
2006 14 Runners-up 29 12 10 7 31 25 +6 46 12th (S) Runners-up   Cha Bum-kun
2007 14 3rd 27 15 6 6 36 25 +11 51 Semi-final (S) Round of 16 Competition ceased   Cha Bum-kun
2008 14 Champions 28 18 4 6 49 26 +23 58 Winners (S) Round of 16   Cha Bum-kun
2009 15 10th 28 8 8 12 29 32 –3 32 Quarter-final (PK) Winners Round of 16 (CL) Winners (PP)   Cha Bum-kun
2010 15 7th 28 12 5 11 39 44 –5 41 Semi-final (PC) Winners Quarter-final (CL) Runners-up (ST)   Cha Bum-kun
  Yoon Sung-hyo
2011 16 4th 30 17 4 9 51 33 +18 55 Semi-final (RC) Runners-up Semi-final (CL)   Yoon Sung-hyo
2012 16 4th 44 20 13 11 61 51 +10 73 Competition ceased Quarter-final   Yoon Sung-hyo
2013 14 5th 38 15 8 15 50 43 +7 53 Round of 16 Group H, 4th (CL)   Seo Jung-won
2014 12 Runners-up 38 19 10 9 52 37 +15 67 Round of 32   Seo Jung-won
2015 12 Runners-up 38 19 10 9 60 43 +17 67 Round of 32 Round of 16 (CL)   Seo Jung-won
2016 12 7th 38 10 18 10 56 59 –3 48 Winners Group G, 3rd (CL)   Seo Jung-won
2017 12 3rd 38 17 13 8 63 41 +22 64 Semi-final Group G, 3rd (CL)   Seo Jung-won
2018 12 6th 38 13 11 14 53 54 –1 50 Semi-final Semi-final (CL)   Seo Jung-won
  Lee Byung-keun (C)
  Seo Jung-won
2019 12 8th 38 12 12 14 46 49 –3 48 Winners   Lee Lim-saeng
2020 12 8th 27 8 7 12 27 30 –3 31 Quarter-final Quarter-final (CL)   Lee Lim-saeng
  Ju Seung-jin (C)
  Park Kun-ha
2021 12 6th 38 12 10 16 42 50 –8 46 Quarter-final   Park Kun-ha
2022 12 10th 38 11 11 16 44 49 –5 44 Quarter-final   Park Kun-ha
  Lee Byung-keun
2023 12 12th   38 8 9 21 35 57 –22 33 Quarter-final   Lee Byung-keun
  Choi Sung-yong (C)
  Kim Byung-soo
  Yeom Ki-hun (C)

AFC Champions League record

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All results (home and away) list Suwon's goal tally first.

Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2005 Group E   Hoang Anh Gia Lai 6–0 5–1 2nd
  Shenzhen Jianlibao 0–0 0–1
  Júbilo Iwata 2–1 1–0
2009 Group G   Kashima Antlers 4–1 0–3 2nd
  Singapore Armed Forces 3–1 2–0
  Shanghai Shenhua 2–1 1–2
Round of 16   Nagoya Grampus 1–2
2010 Group G   Gamba Osaka 0–0 1–2 1st
  Singapore Armed Forces 6–2 2–0
  Henan Jianye 2–0 2–0
Round of 16   Beijing Guoan 2–0
Quarter-final   Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma 2–0 1–4 3–4
2011 Group H   Sydney FC 3–1 0–0 1st
  Shanghai Shenhua 4–0 3–0
  Kashima Antlers 1–1 1–1
Round of 16   Nagoya Grampus 2–0
Quarter-final   Zob Ahan 1–1 2–1 (a.e.t.) 3–2
Semi-final   Al-Sadd 0–2 1–0 1–2
2013 Group H   Central Coast Mariners 0–1 0–0 4th
  Guizhou Renhe 0–0 2–2
  Kashiwa Reysol 2–6 0–0
2015 Group G   Urawa Red Diamonds 2–1 2–1 2nd
  Beijing Guoan 1–1 0–1
  Brisbane Roar 3–1 3–3
Round of 16   Kashiwa Reysol 2–3 2–1 4–4 (a)
2016 Group G   Gamba Osaka 0–0 2–1 3rd
  Shanghai SIPG 3–0 1–2
  Melbourne Victory 1–1 0–0
2017 Group G   Kawasaki Frontale 0–1 1–1 3rd
  Guangzhou Evergrande 2–2 2–2
  Eastern 5–0 1–0
2018 Play-off   Thanh Hóa 5–1
Group H   Sydney FC 1–4 2–0 1st
  Kashima Antlers 1–2 1–0
  Shanghai Shenhua 1–1 2–0
Round of 16   Ulsan Hyundai 3–0 0–1 3–1
Quarter-final   Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 0–3 (a.e.t.) 3–0 3–3
(4–2 p)
Semi-final   Kashima Antlers 3–3 2–3 5–6
2020 Group G   Guangzhou Evergrande 0–0[a] 1–1[a] 2nd
  Vissel Kobe 0–1 2–0[a]
Round of 16   Yokohama F. Marinos 3–2[a]
Quarter-final   Vissel Kobe 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(6–7 p)[a]
  1. ^ a b c d e Played at a neutral venue.

Player statistics

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Top scorers by seasons

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Season Name Goals
1996   Park Kun-ha 7
1997   Cho Hyun-doo 7
1998   Saša Drakulić 8
1999 23
2000   Denis Laktionov 10
2001   Sandro Cardoso 17
2002 10
2003   Nádson 14
2004 14
2005   Mato Neretljak 10
2006   Baek Ji-hoon 5
2007   Nádson 8
2008   Edu 16
2009   Edu 7
2010   José Mota 11
 
Season Name Goals
2011   Stevica Ristić 9
2012   Dženan Radončić 14
2013   Jong Tae-se 10
2014   Natanael Santos 14
2015 12
2016 12
2017   Johnathan 22
2018   Dejan Damjanović 13
2019   Adam Taggart 20
2020 9
2021   Uroš Đerić
  Kim Gun-hee
  Jeong Sang-bin
  Kim Min-woo
6
2022   Oh Hyeon-gyu 13

Award winners

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The following players have won awards while at Suwon Samsung Bluewings:

Domestic

International

World Cup players

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The following players have represented their country at the FIFA World Cup whilst playing for Suwon Samsung Bluewings:

World Cup 1998

World Cup 2002

World Cup 2006

World Cup 2010

World Cup 2014

World Cup 2018

Olympic players

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The following players have represented their country at the Summer Olympic Games whilst playing for Suwon Samsung Bluewings:

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

2016

2020

Managers

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No. Name From To Season(s) Honours
1
  Kim Ho 22 February 1995 October 2003
1996–2003
1998 K League
1999 K League
2000–01 Asian Club Championship
2001–02 Asian Club Championship
2002 Korean FA Cup
2
  Cha Bum-kun 17 October 2003 6 June 2010
2004–2010
2004 K League
2008 K League
2009 Korean FA Cup
3
  Yoon Sung-hyo 15 June 2010 12 December 2012
2010–2012
2010 Korean FA Cup
4
  Seo Jung-won 12 December 2012
15 October 2018
28 August 2018
2 December 2018
2013–2018
2018
2016 Korean FA Cup
C   Lee Byung-keun 28 August 2018 15 October 2018
2018
5
  Lee Lim-saeng 3 December 2018 17 July 2020
2019–2020
2019 Korean FA Cup
C   Ju Seung-jin 17 July 2020 8 September 2020
2020
6
  Park Kun-ha 8 September 2020 15 April 2022[9]
2020–2022
7
  Lee Byung-keun 18 April 2022 17 April 2023[10]
2022–2023
C   Choi Sung-yong 18 April 2023[11] 5 May 2023
2023
8
  Kim Byung-soo 6 May 2023[12] 26 September 2023[13]
2023
C   Yeom Ki-hun 26 September 2023[14] 2 December 2023
2023
9   Yeom Ki-hun 9 January 2024 25 May 2024
2024
10   Byun Sung-hwan 31 May 2024 present
2024–

References

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  1. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (2 December 2023). "How the mighty have fallen: Suwon Samsung Bluewings relegated to K League 2 amid falling payroll". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Bluewings' relegation is latest chapter in Samsung's fall from sporting glory". Korea JoongAng Daily. 8 December 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  3. ^ "전관중이 함께 부르는 수원 클럽송 첫 선". bluewings.kr (in Korean). Suwon Samsung Bluewings. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  4. ^ "[스토리K] '8G 만의 승리' 수원, 치열했던 빅버드의 2시간". m.sports.naver.com (in Korean). 18 June 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  5. ^ "선수단" [Team]. bluewings.kr (in Korean). Suwon Samsung Bluewings. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. ^ "수원, 빅버드 라커룸 새 단장 완료!" (in Korean). 9 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  7. ^ "수원 10주년 베스트 11 발표" (in Korean). 6 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  8. ^ "20주년 기념, 팬들이 뽑은 베스트 일레븐" (in Korean). 12 December 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  9. ^ "Suwon Samsung Bluewings coach Park Kun-ha resigns amid winless slide". Yonhap News Agency. 15 April 2022. Archived from the original on 19 January 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  10. ^ "수원 삼성, 이병근 감독 부임 1주년 앞두고 '경질'". SPOTV News (in Korean). 17 April 2023. Archived from the original on 17 April 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  11. ^ "수원 삼성, 이병근 감독 경질…최성용 감독대행 체제". yonhapnewstv.co.kr (in Korean). 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  12. ^ "Kim Byung-soo appointed as new Suwon Samsung Bluewings manager". Korea JoongAng Daily. 4 May 2023. Archived from the original on 4 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023. Kim will take the helm at the Bluewings, who currently have two draws and eight losses on the season, on Saturday, after the club's Friday game against Incheon United.
  13. ^ "'전통 명가' 수원, 김병수 감독과 결별". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
  14. ^ "[오피셜]'최하위' 수원, 김병수 감독 전격 '경질', '레전드' 염기훈 대행체제로 '승부수'". The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). 26 September 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 2 December 2023.
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