"It's going to be a compact 20th." Ulsan, the 'Champion' to be tempered in Dubai, and Eom Won-sang's 'Spirit Duri' to build Kumho Go Trio
"It's going to be a compact 20th." Ulsan, the 'Champion' to be tempered in Dubai, and Eom Won-sang's 'Spirit Duri' to build Kumho Go Trio
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Ulsan HD, the defending champion who opened the new year by recruiting "storms," has started winter training in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. While coach Kim Pan-gon and other coaching staff including Park Chu-young, who signed an official coaching contract, left the country first on Tuesday, 35 Korean players left on Sunday.
Ulsan has improved its constitution in 2025. It recruited Kang Sang-woo, Yoon Jong-gyu, Heo Yul, Lee Hee-kyun, Lee Jin-hyeon, Park Min-seo, and Yoon Jae-seok. It renewed its contract with veteran Lee Chung-yong. In contrast, Joo Min-gyu and Lim Jong-hyeok parted ways with Kim Ji-hyun and Jo Su-hyuk. Ulsan's season begins next month. On February 12, the seventh leg of the Asian Champions League's elite league stage in the 2024-2025 season against Buriram United of Thailand is waiting. The K-League 1 will open soon.
Now, they have no time to turn their eyes to it. Ulsan will have to shed heavy sweat for about 20 days through Sunday. Although it is a short winter training camp, it has to prepare for more games than any other season. Starting with the K League 1 last year, Ulsan played a total of 55 matches, including the ACL and the Korea Cup. This year, Ulsan will also play in the FIFA Club World Cup in June representing Asia. Given the schedule, the team is expected to have an all-time season.
Dubai, a warm climate, is considered an optimal training site for teams around the world as it has the infrastructure suitable for training and relaxation. Ulsan has chosen lodging and training facilities where leading teams from overseas have visited as its training base camp. Practice matches with overseas teams under training in Dubai are also scheduled.
Ulsan won its third consecutive K League 1 title last year, opening the door of the dynasty. "As we have to spend a longer and more challenging season both quantitatively and qualitatively, this winter off-season training will be an important time to determine the direction of the 2025 season," Ulsan coach Kim Pan-gon said. "It will be a compact 20th. Players and coaches will join forces to prepare well for the next season."
Cho Hyun-woo, 메이저놀이터 the goalkeeper who was named the MVP and received the highest honor last year, said in an interview ahead of his departure on the 6th, "I forgot everything that passed. I won the K-League for three consecutive times, and I will run after watching just that so that I can win again this year. There will be more games, but I will try my best to play really good games for the fans who love Ulsan again this year." On the Club World Cup, he also said, "I've experienced the Club World Cup once in Ulsan, and it's not an easy competition. However, this year is different, and I will try to set my goal higher and go up higher. I will prepare well to show that I am a really strong team in Korea."