The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage

  • 3

    China expresses 'strong dissatisfaction' over US shooting down balloon

  • 5

    US shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon with a single missile

  • 7

    Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?

  • 9

    VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines

  • 11

    LG publishes Korea's first group-level net zero report

  • 13

    Search under way for 9 missing after fishing boat capsizes

  • 15

    Conflict reignites over relocation of POSCO Holdings to Pohang

  • 17

    Dangerously cold temperatures envelop Northeast

  • 19

    Hyundai Motor's technology helps team become WTCR double champion

  • 2

    2-year work experience prerequisite lifted for foreign shipyard welders

  • 4

    Families of Itaewon victims on collision course with Seoul City

  • 6

    President Yoon at odds with politician who helped him win election

  • 8

    'Hype Boy' by NewJeans reaches 200 mil. Spotify streams

  • 10

    9 fishermen, including 2 Vietnamese, missing in boat incident

  • 12

    Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies

  • 14

    More than 2,000 foreign workers to be hired at Korean shipyards this month

  • 16

    FSC approves security token transactions in Korea

  • 18

    Japan PM Kishida fires aide over same-sex couple outburst

  • 20

    Brazil scuttles warship in Atlantic despite pollution concerns

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
Sports
Tue, February 7, 2023 | 01:33
K League needs more variety
Posted : 2022-08-09 13:51
Updated : 2022-08-10 16:23
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
Jeonbuk Hyundai winger Modou Barrow, left, reacts with his teammates after scoring a goal during the K League 1 match against Ulsan Hyundai at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Sunday. / Yonhap
Jeonbuk Hyundai winger Modou Barrow, left, reacts with his teammates after scoring a goal during the K League 1 match against Ulsan Hyundai at Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Sunday. / Yonhap

By John Duerden

The K League season is entering the final third with the top two presenting a very familiar sight. Ulsan Horangi and Jeonbuk Motors drew 1-1 on Sunday. Um Won-sang gave Ulsan the lead with Modou Barrow earning the visitor a point. It means that Ulsan stays six points clear at the top though, as all know, that has often been the case in the past, but Jeonbuk usually finds a way to take the title as it has done in the last five seasons.

Jeonbuk has been dropping a few points and will be looking over its shoulder at the Pohang Steelers, just three points behind in third. Pohang may be able to make a late surge but it would be a surprise if the title goes to anywhere other than Ulsan or Jeonju. No other team has anything approaching the necessary consistency.

It would be nice if there were more teams that could challenge the duopoly at the top. Having the same two fighting it out so often does become a little boring.

More of an issue, however, is that there is even less variety when it comes to coaches. There are too many Koreans coaches on the sidelines. Only one of the 12 teams is managed by an outsider and that is Alexandre Gama of Brazil in charge of Daegu, down in ninth.

With soccer the most international of sports, having people with different backgrounds and experiences determining how teams play is hugely beneficial. All know the impact that the likes of Arsene Wenger had on an insular English coaching scene when he took charge of Arsenal in 1996. Now the best coaches in the world work in the English Premier League and they have helped to change England for the better with players training with and learning from the best in the business.

The K League is a fascinating competition, the oldest in Asia with a long history. Yet the playing style of the 12 teams in the league is too similar. There is too much emphasis on keeping things tight in defense and looking to score on the counter-attack. If variety is the spice of life then the soccer on display in the league is a little bland. If some Korean coaches had international experience and returned home to try their ideas, then it would be different but that is not the case at all.

Japan's top tier has a good mix of domestic and foreign coaches, about half and half, while other top leagues in Asia, such as Saudi Arabia have too few domestic bosses. A balance can be found, and one needs to be found to make the K-League more interesting, exciting and stronger.

It is, of course, much more complex and expensive for clubs to hand the team over to a Brazilian, Frenchman or Serbian. They are going to want to bring assistants and they need translators to aid with communication. There are also cultural differences but good foreign coaches can make a major difference on and off the field.

In the future, some clubs have to step up, look outside the borders of the Land of the Morning Calm for coaching talent and bring in some fresh faces, international experience and new ideas. The whole country would benefit.



Emailjohn.duerden@gmail.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1[VIDEO] Filipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines VIDEOFilipina K-pop idol and K-drama actress react to stereotypes about the Philippines
2US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book US literary agent reflects on personal journey to discover Korea in new book
3[ANALYSIS] New order prevails in global battery industry ANALYSISNew order prevails in global battery industry
4[INTERVIEW] Saudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOMINTERVIEWSaudi Arabia seeks greater cooperation with Korea in NEOM
5[Video] How Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories VideoHow Koreans' favorite convenience store foods are made in factories
6Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones Why Galaxy Book3 draws more attention than S23 smartphones
7Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders Debate heats up over chemical castration of more sex offenders
8Renowned American economist to discuss China issues at Seoul webinar Renowned American economist to discuss China issues at Seoul webinar
9Opposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concernsOpposition party's attempt to enact Korean version of IRA triggers concerns
10Argentina hopes to strengthen nuclear cooperation with KoreaArgentina hopes to strengthen nuclear cooperation with Korea
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] Tati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage INTERVIEWTati Gabrielle, actress of Korean, African-American descent, feels proud of her heritage
2TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart TXT, Le Sserafim top Oricon album and singles chart
3Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different? Decoding success factors of NewJeans: How is it different?
4Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies Reclusive fashion icon Martin Margiela makes comeback as artist with eerie wonderland of human bodies
5The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design The Boyz member Hyunjae apologizes for wearing hat with Rising Sun flag design
DARKROOM
  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

  • World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

    World Cup 2022 France vs Morocco

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group