Jeonbuk Hyundai dominate K-League awards

Lee Dong-gook of Jeonbuk Hyundai speaks at the K-League Awards ceremony in Seoul, Monday. The veteran striker became the first three-time MVP winner in the league’s 30-year history. / Yonhap

By Nam Hyun-woo

Jeonbuk Hyundai of Korea's top-tier K-League Classic dominated the 2014 K-League Awards ceremony, Monday, with forward Lee Dong-gook collecting his third MVP trophy.

At the season-wrapping ceremony at Grand Hilton in Seodaemun district, Seoul, five footballers of league champion Jeonbuk were named as the best eleven of this season.

Lee, 35-year-old veteran striker, won the MVP of this season as well as being named as fan-picked best player and marking a spot in the best eleven. He became the first player in the 30-year-long K-League history to win MVP title three times.

“It feels great to be the most popular player, after being one of the most criticized players,” Lee said.

Appearing in 31 games, Lee scored 13 goals, second most along with Stevo of Jeonnam Dragons, and raised his side to clinch title early in just 35 games.

Jeonbuk goalkeeper Kwoun Sun-tae, defender Wilkinson, midfielders Han Kyo-won and Lee Seung-gi were elected the best players in their positions. Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee also won the glory of best coach this season.

Jeonbuk Hyundai head coach Choi Kang-hee, voted the Coach of the Year, holds his trophies. / Yonhap

“Young Player Award,” given to players younger than 23 and has less than three years of career at the K-League, was given to Pohang Steelers' sophomore Kim Seung-dae. The 23-year-old recorded 10 goals and eight assists in the league and also raised his national side to clinch a gold at the Incheon Asian Games earlier this year. With his winning, three Pohang players won the award in three straight years.

FC Seoul's veteran defender Cha Du-ri said he will quit international football after the Asian Cup in Australia next year. “Asian Cup will be my last international appearance,” he said.

A day earlier, the 38-round K-League Classic conclided, with last-minute drama highlighting the final round.

FC Seoul clinched the last ticket to the Asian Champions League (ACL) next year after a 2-1 victory against Jeju United FC, Sunday.

Until Sunday's game at the Seogwipo World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, Jeju, fourth-ranked Seoul was three point behind the third-ranked Pohang, who needed only a draw to go to the qualifying playoff for a chance to join the ACL.

Seoul was one goal behind until Yun Il-lok's equalizer in the 69th minute, but managed to defeat Jeju with Osmar's 89th minute decider. At the same time, Pohang was one goal ahead of Suwon Samsung Bluewings with Kim Kwang-suk's goal in the 48th minute, but collapsed in just five minutes, allowing consecutively to Santos in 79th minute and Chong Te-se in 84th minute.

FC Seoul and Pohang Steelers both ended with 58 points, but the former sat ahead in goal differential, plus-14 to plus-11.

The top two K-League Classic teams ― champion Jeonbuk and runner-up Suwon ― along with the FA Cup champion ― Seongnam FC ― earn automatic berths to the following season's ACL. The No. 3 team in the league vies in the qualifying playoff for a chance to join them.

Last year's champion Pohang was solid in the first half of the season, leading the table with an undefeated campaign. However, things have gone wrong after in the later half. They sent key player Lee Myung-joo to Al Ain of UAE and won just twice since mid-September. For them, the bitter rivalry against FC Seoul was the culprit of their spoiled season, who knocked Pohang out from FA cup, ACL and losing ticket to the next year's ACL.

Though the owner of the trophy was confirmed early in November, the names for awards were decided after the final round.

Until Sunday, Jeonbuk's Lee Dong-gook, Jeonnam's Stevo and Suwon's Santos were in the race for the scoring title. As Santos scored in Suwon's victory, he clinched his first title with 14 goals. Jeonbuk's Lee Seung-gi also became the assists leader after recording his 10th assist for Han Kyo-won's volley goal during his side's 1-1 draw with Ulsan Hyundai on Sunday. His teammate Leonardo also recorded 10 assists but Lee held the title because he appeared in fewer games (26 games) than the Brazilian (35 games).

Meanwhile, Sangju Sangmu, a club comprised of conscripted footballers, finished the season in the last place, facing a disgraceful relegation to the second division of K-League Challenge. Because of inevitable changes in squad, such as players' discharge, Sangju suffered a deep slump from September and ended its one-year stint at the top division.

Eleventh-ranked Gyeongnam FC finished the season just two points ahead of Sangju and will be in a relegation playoff with Gwangju FC from the Challenge side. K-League Challenge champion Daejeon Citizen will also return to the top division in the next season.