Ulsan Hyundai FC

Ulsan HD FC
Full nameUlsan HD Football Club
울산 HD 축구단
Nickname(s)호랑이 (Tigers)
Founded1983; 41 years ago (1983) (as Hyundai Horang-i)
GroundUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity37,897
OwnerHD Hyundai Heavy Industries
ChairmanChung Mong-joon
ManagerHong Myung-bo
LeagueK League 1
2023K League 1, 1st of 12 (champions)
WebsiteClub website

Ulsan HD FC (Korean: 울산 HD FC), formerly Ulsan Hyundai FC,[1][2] is a South Korean professional football club based in Ulsan that competes in the K League 1, the top tier of South Korean football. Founded in 1983 as Hyundai Horang-i, they joined the K League in 1984. Their home ground is Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium. The club is owned by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Ulsan HD have won the league title four times, most recently in 2023, and the Korean FA Cup once, in 2017. At international level, they have won the AFC Champions League twice, in 2012 and 2020.

History

Early years: before Ulsan (1983–1989)

Ulsan Hyundai was established on 6 December 1983 as Hyundai Horang-i, with tiger as its mascot (horangi means tiger in Korean). Their original franchise area was Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.[3] They joined the professional K League from 1984 season. While they finished their debut season as 3rd place, the team's striker Baek Jong-chul became the K League Top Scorer, scoring 16 goals in 28 matches. They won their first professional trophy in 1986, winning the Professional Football Championship, which is the origin of Korean League Cup. From the 1987 season, the club moved their franchise from Incheon and Gyeonggi Province to Gangwon Province. In the 1988 season, they finished the season as the runners-up in the league.

Move to Ulsan and rise to power (1990–1999)

Beginning in the 1990 season, the club moved their franchise to Ulsan, where the headquarters of several branches of owner company Hyundai are located at, from Gangwon Province. Former South Korea's striker Cha Bum-kun took the managerial position in the 1991 season, leading the club to the runners-up position in the league in his debut season. However, he failed to win any trophy and was replaced by Ko Jae-wook after the 1994 season. Under Ko Jae-wook, Ulsan won their second Korean League Cup trophy in 1995, which was his debut season as Ulsan manager. Ulsan won their first ever league title in 1996, beating Suwon Samsung Bluewings 3–2 on aggregate in the championship playoffs. The club then entered a long dry-spell in terms of league trophies, although they won their third Korean League Cup trophy in 1998, beating Bucheon SK 2–1 on aggregate in the finals.

Two Kims era (2000–2013)

2012 AFC Champions League Final at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium

Failure to add a major title for years did affect the team negatively. After the exodus of key players like Kim Hyun-seok and a terrible start in the 2000, manager Ko Jae-wook resigned in the middle of the season.

Kim Jung-nam era: Gangsters of Asia (2000–2008)

Ulsan appointed Kim Jung-nam, who had formerly managed South Korea, as their next manager. They finished as runners-up in 2002 and 2003, and started to emerge as a strong force. In 2005, with the return of two key players, Yoo Sang-chul and Lee Chun-soo, they qualified for the championship playoffs. In the play-off semi-final, they beat Seongnam Ilhwa 2–1, and in the final, they beat Incheon United 6–3 on aggregate, with a hat-trick from Lee Chun-Soo in the first leg. They became the league champions for the second time in their history.

The club also went on to win the A3 Champions Cup in 2006, in which they participated as K League champions. Although they lost their first match in the competition against JEF United Ichihara Chiba 3–2, they beat Dalian Shide 4–0 and Gamba Osaka 6–0 to clinch the trophy. Lee Chun-soo became the competition's top scorer, scoring six goals in three matches. They repeated the merciless attacks in the AFC Champions League that season, beating Al-Shabab 6–0 in the first leg of the quarter-finals. These overwhelming attacks they showed in the season gave Ulsan the nickname "Gangsters of Asia".[4]

Ulsan won the 2007 Korean League Cup, beating FC Seoul 2–1 in the final on 27 June 2007. In 2008, the team changed their official name from Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i to Ulsan Hyundai FC.[5]

Kim Ho-kon era: Iron Mace Football (2009–2013)

Manager Kim Jung-nam stepped down after the 2008 season. Kim Ho-kon, who had managed the South Korea under-23 team that reached the quarter-finals in the 2004 Summer Olympics was appointed as Ulsan's next manager.

Kim Ho-kon did not enjoy Ulsan fans' full support for his first few seasons at the club, mainly because of his defensive tactical style and unsatisfying outcomes.[citation needed] The 2011 season was a dramatic changeover; Ulsan won their fifth Korean League Cup, beating Busan IPark 3–2 in the final. Ulsan also finished the season as runners-up in the K League that season. Their unique style of having many players pushing forward in counterattacks earned them the nickname "Iron mace football".[6]

In 2012, the club won the AFC Champions League, defeating Al-Ahli 3–0 in the final on 10 November. In the run up to the final, Ulsan went on an unbeaten run throughout the twelve games of the competition, winning nine consecutive games and scoring 27 goals in the process.[7]

Players

Current squad

As of 29 February 2024[8]

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

Out on loan

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

Managers

No. Name From To Season(s) Honours
1 South Korea Moon Jung-sik 1983/07/12 1986/04/22 1984–1986
C South Korea Cho Chung-yun 1986/04/22 1986/12/?? 1986 Professional Football Championship
2 1986/12/?? 1987/12/30 1987
3 South Korea Kim Ho 1987/12/30 1990/11/19 1988–1990
4 South Korea Cha Bum-kun 1990/11/23 1994/11/27 1991–1994
5 South Korea Ko Jae-wook 1994/11/30 2000/06/12 1995–2000 1995 Korean League Cup
1996 K League
1998 Korean League Cup
C South Korea Chung Jong-soo 2000/06/12 2000/08/21 2000
6 South Korea Kim Jung-nam 2000/08/22 2008/12/25 2000–2008 2005 K League
2007 Korean League Cup
7 South Korea Kim Ho-kon 2008/12/26 2013/12/04 2009–2013 2011 Korean League Cup
2012 AFC Champions League
8 South Korea Cho Min-kook 2013/12/06 2014/12/01 2014
9 South Korea Yoon Jung-hwan 2014/12/01 2016/11/14 2015–2016
10 South Korea Kim Do-hoon 2016/11/21 2020/12/20 2017–2020 2017 Korean FA Cup
2020 AFC Champions League
11 South Korea Hong Myung-bo 2020/12/24 2021– 2022 K League 1
2023 K League 1

Kits

Kit suppliers

Honours

Domestic

League

Cups

  1. ^ a b Reserve team

International

Season-by-season records

Domestic record

Season Division Tms. Pos. FA Cup
1984 1 8 3 —
1985 1 8 4 —
1986 1 6 6 —
1987 1 5 4 —
1988 1 5 2 —
1989 1 6 6 —
1990 1 6 5 —
1991 1 6 2 —
1992 1 6 3 —
1993 1 6 3 —
1994 1 7 4 —
1995 1 8 2 —
1996 1 9 1 Semi-final
1997 1 10 3 Quarter-final
1998 1 10 2 Runners-up
1999 1 10 6 Semi-final
2000 1 10 10 Quarter-final
2001 1 10 6 Semi-final
2002 1 10 2 Quarter-final
2003 1 12 2 Semi-final
2004 1 13 4 Semi-final
2005 1 13 1 Round of 16
2006 1 14 5 Round of 32
2007 1 14 4 Quarter-final
2008 1 14 3 Quarter-final
2009 1 15 8 Round of 32
2010 1 15 5 Round of 16
2011 1 16 2 Semi-final
2012 1 16 5 Semi-final
2013 1 14 2 Round of 16
2014 1 12 6 Round of 16
2015 1 12 7 Semi-final
2016 1 12 4 Semi-final
2017 1 12 4 Winners
2018 1 12 3 Runners-up
2019 1 12 2 Round of 32
2020 1 12 2 Runners-up
2021 1 12 2 Semi-final
2022 1 12 1 Semi-final
2023 1 12 1 Quarter-final
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league

AFC Champions League record

All results list Ulsan's goal tally first.

Season Round Opposition Home Away Agg.
2006 Group F Japan Tokyo Verdy 1–0 2–0 1st
Quarter-final Saudi Arabia Al-Shabab 6–0 1–0 7–0
Semi-final South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–4 3–2 4–6
2009 Group E Japan Nagoya Grampus 1–3 1–4 3rd
Australia Newcastle Jets 0–1 0–2
China Beijing Guoan 1–0 1–0
2012 Group F China Beijing Guoan 2–1 3–2 1st
Japan FC Tokyo 1–0 2–2
Australia Brisbane Roar 1–1 2–1
Round of 16 Japan Kashiwa Reysol 3–2 — —
Quarter-final Saudi Arabia Al-Hilal 1–0 4–0 5–0
Semi-final Uzbekistan Bunyodkor 2–0 3–1 5–1
Final Saudi Arabia Al-Ahli 3–0 — —
2014 Group H Australia Western Sydney Wanderers 0–2 3–1 3rd
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2–0 1–3
China Guizhou Renhe 1–1 1–3
2017 Play-off Hong Kong Kitchee 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–3 p) 		— —
Group E Japan Kashima Antlers 0–4 0–2 3rd
Australia Brisbane Roar 6–0 3–2
Thailand Muangthong United 0–0 0–1
2018 Group F Australia Melbourne Victory 6–2 3–3 2nd
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2–1 2–2
China Shanghai SIPG 0–1 2–2
Round of 16 South Korea Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–0 0–3 1–3
2019 Play-off Malaysia Perak 5–1 — —
Group H Australia Sydney FC 1–0 0–0 1st
China Shanghai SIPG 1–0 0–5
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 1–0 2–2
Round of 16 Japan Urawa Red Diamonds 0–3 2–1 2–4
2020 Group F[a] Japan FC Tokyo 1–1 2–1 1st
China Shanghai Shenhua 3–1 4–1
Australia Perth Glory 2–0 2–1
Round of 16 Australia Melbourne Victory 3–0
Quarter-final China Beijing Guoan 2–0
Semi-final Japan Vissel Kobe 2–1 (a.e.t.)
Final Iran Persepolis 2–1
2021 Group F[a] Vietnam Viettel 3–0 1–0 1st
Thailand BG Pathum United 2–0 2–0
Philippines Kaya–Iloilo 2–1 3–0
Round of 16 Japan Kawasaki Frontale 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
Quarter-final South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 3–2 (a.e.t.)
Semi-final South Korea Pohang Steelers 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–5 p)
2022 Play-off Thailand Port 3–0
Group I[a] Japan Kawasaki Frontale 3–2 1–1 3rd
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 1–2 1–2
China Guangzhou 3–0 5–0
2023–24 Group I Thailand BG Pathum United 3–1 3–1 2nd
Japan Kawasaki Frontale 2–2 0–1
Malaysia Johor Darul Ta'zim 3–1 1–2
Round of 16 Japan Ventforet Kofu 3–0 2–1 5–1
Quarter-final South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 1–1 2–1
Semi-final Japan Yokohama F. Marinos
  1. ^ a b c Matches were played at neutral venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with "home" and "away" used for administrative purposes.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ulsan Hyundai rebrand as Ulsan HD with new all-blue logo". Korea JoongAng Daily. 14 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  2. ^ Jee-ho, Yoo (14 December 2023). "K League 1 champions Ulsan Hyundai FC renamed Ulsan HD FC for new season". Yonhap News Agency. Archived from the original on 25 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  3. ^ "울산현대축구단". 울산현대축구단. Archived from the original on 15 August 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  4. ^ 울산, 6년 전 '아시아 깡패' 부활위한 3가지 조건 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 20 September 2012. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  5. ^ "History: Ulsan Hyundai Football Club". Ulsan Hyundai FC. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  6. ^ 김호곤, 편견과 싸워 이긴 울산 사령탑 5년 (in Korean). Best Eleven. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  7. ^ "Ulsan's ultimate victory". ESPNFC. 10 November 2012.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "선수단". uhfc.tv (in Korean). Ulsan HD FC. Retrieved 29 February 2024.

External links

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