Tue 10th Apr 2007

They are seven time K-League champions, AFC Champions League finalists and have dominated Korean football. Now Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma have arrived in Adelaide for the first time to face Adelaide United.

Founded in 1989, Seongnam Ilhwa is the most successful club in the K-League in terms of championship triumphs, with their greatest streak when they won three consecutive championships between 2001 and 2003. However, it has not all been smooth sailing as the club had to resurrect itself from finishing bottom in 1999. As well as winning the championship last year, Seongnam Ilhwa also cleaned up a number of individual awards in the K-League, which included the most valuable player, coach of the year, and top goal scorer.

In the off season the Korean giants bolstered their squad by spending a reported $6million on three new players, Choi Sung-kuk, Kim Dong-hyun and Han Dong-won, and the team currently sit top of the K-League after remaining undefeated after their opening five games. Seongnam Ilhwa has extremely strong depth in their squad, and they have a number of players who have or are involved with the Korean national team.

In their 2007 AFC Champions League to date, the Koreans outplayed Gach Dong Tam Long An in their opening match winning 4-1 at home but went down to Shandong Luneng 2-1 in China in their last outing.

Regarded as one of the biggest clubs in Asia, Seongnam Ilhwa will provide a tall order for Adelaide United to overcome. However, after United’s spirited and promising form in the first two matches, The Reds will be no easy beats as Wednesday night’s encounter shapes up as a blockbuster in Group G of the competition.

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (Korea)
11/4/07 Adelaide United FC v Seongnam Ilwha (Hindmarsh Stadium)
25/4/07 Seongnam Ilwha v Adelaide United FC (Seongnam 2 Stadium)

Korean league champions Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma return to the AFC Champions League for the first time since their dramatic defeat in the 2004 final to Saudi Arabia’s Al Ittihad, when they lost 6-3 on aggregate after a 5-0 home defeat in the second leg.

Under coach Kim Hak-bum, the team from suburban Seoul ended their three-year title drought in November, winning their seventh K-League title with a 3-1 aggregate victory against Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the championship play-off final.

Honours
•  Asian Club Championship winners: 1 (1996)
•  Asian Super Cup winners: 1 (1996)
•  League Champions: 7 (2006, 03, 02, 01, 1995, 1994, 1993)
•  Cup Winners: 1 (1999)

Continental Record
•  ACC: 1997 - Runners-up; 1996 - Winners; 1995 - SF
•  ACWC: 2001 - 2nd Rd
•  ASC: 1996 - Winners

Previous ACL Record
•  2006: Did Not Qualify
•  2005: Did Not Qualify
•  2004: Runners-up (lost final to Al Ittihad (KSA) 6-3 on aggregate)
•  2003: Group Stage

Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma - 2007 K-League Record
Pos. - P - W - D - L
1 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 0

vs. Chunnam (H) 1-1
vs. Jeju (A) 2-1
vs. Gwangju (H) 3-1
vs. Suwon (H) 3-1

2006 K-League Record:
Pos. - P - W - D - L - Pts
1 - 26 - 14 - 7 - 5 - 49
•  Founded: 1989
•  Stadium: Seongnam 2 Stadium
•  Capacity: 16,000
•  Chairman: Park Kyu-Nam
•  Manager (Coach): Kim Hak-Beom

Players to Watch

8 Kim, Doo-Hyun (official English name is Kim Do-heon)
The offensive midfielder was instrumental in helping Seongnam win their seventh K-League title and a place in the AFC Champions League. Technically one of Korea’s best players, he picked up an overwhelming 66 out of 71 votes cast by journalists at a poll carried out at the Korean Football Association headquarters recently. A noted goal scorer, Kim Doo-Hyun has scored seven goals in 38 appearances for Korea and hit the target nine times in Seongnam Ilhwa’s 2004 AFC Champions League campaign.

11 Mota
Arguably the best finisher in the K-League, Mota has scored 29 goals in 61 games, which is outstanding in what is considered quite a defensive league. He is deadly with either foot but is known to have a suspect temperament. A serious threat to Adelaide United on Wednesday night, Mota struck twice against Gach Dong Tam Long An in the first match of the tournament.

14 Kim Sang-shik
Seongnam’s captain dictates his team’s game on the pitch. He is very solid defensively and very comfortable on the ball. His passing skills and direction on the park are vital for Seongnam’s success.