2020 K League 2

Eighth season of the K League 2, the second tier South Korean professional league

Football league season
Hana 1Q
K League 2
Season2020
Dates9 May – 21 November 2020
ChampionsJeju United
(1st title)
PromotedJeju United
Suwon FC
Matches played119
Goals scored288 (2.42 per match)
Best PlayerAn Byong-jun
Top goalscorerAn Byong-jun
(21 goals)
Biggest home winJeju 4–0 Bucheon
(26 August 2020)
Biggest away winChungnam Asan 0–5 Suwon FC
(24 May 2020)
Highest scoringSuwon FC 3–4 Jeonnam
(18 September 2020)
Longest winning run3 matches
Suwon FC
Longest unbeaten run4 matches
Daejeon Hana Citizen
Jeonnam Dragons
Longest winless run4 matches
Chungnam Asan
Seoul E-Land
← 2019
2021 →

The 2020 K League 2 was the eighth season of the K League 2, the second-tier South Korean professional football league. The champions and the winners of the promotion play-offs could be promoted to the K League 1. The second, third and fourth-placed teams qualified for the promotion play-offs.

On 24 April 2020, the K League Federation confirmed that they reduced the number of matchdays to 27.[1]

Teams

Team changes

The Asan government made new football club Chungnam Asan to replace its former club Asan Mugunghwa, which was dissolved before the season.[2][3]

Relegated from K League 1

Promoted to K League 1

Newly joined

Withdrawn

Locations

Hana Financial Group took over Daejeon Citizen, and renamed the team Daejeon Hana Citizen.

Team City/Province Abbreviation
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan
Bucheon FC 1995 Bucheon Bucheon
Chungnam Asan Asan Chungnam Asan
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Gyeongnam
Jeju United Jeju Jeju
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Jeonnam
Seoul E-Land Seoul Seoul E
Suwon FC Suwon Suwon FC

Stadiums

Ansan Greeners Bucheon FC 1995 Chungnam Asan Daejeon Hana Citizen FC Anyang
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Bucheon Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium Daejeon World Cup Stadium Anyang Stadium
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 34,456 Capacity: 17,376 Capacity: 40,535 Capacity: 17,143
Gyeongnam FC Jeju United Jeonnam Dragons Seoul E-Land Suwon FC
Changwon Football Center Jeju World Cup Stadium Gwangyang Stadium Seoul Olympic Stadium Suwon Sports Complex
Capacity: 15,074 Capacity: 35,657 Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 69,950 Capacity: 11,808

Personnel and sponsoring

Team Manager Kit manufacturer Main sponsor
Ansan Greeners South Korea Kim Gil-sik Lupo Finta Ansan Government
Bucheon FC 1995 South Korea Song Sun-ho Astore Bucheon Government
Chungnam Asan South Korea Park Dong-hyuk Mizuno Asan Government
Daejeon Hana Citizen South Korea Hwang Sun-hong Astore Hana Financial Group
FC Anyang South Korea Kim Hyung-yul Joma Anyang Government
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Seol Ki-hyeon Hummel Gyeongnam Provincial Government
Jeju United South Korea Nam Ki-il Puma SK Energy
Jeonnam Dragons South Korea Jeon Kyung-jun Puma POSCO
Seoul E-Land South Korea Chung Jung-yong New Balance E-Land
Suwon FC South Korea Kim Do-kyun Hummel Suwon Government

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

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing Manner Date Incoming Date Table
Suwon FC South Korea Lee Kwan-woo (caretaker) Caretaker 10 November 2019 South Korea Kim Do-kyun 15 November 2019[4] Pre-season
Seoul E-Land South Korea Woo Sung-yong (caretaker) Caretaker 10 November 2019 South Korea Chung Jung-yong 5 December 2019[5]
Jeju United South Korea Choi Yun-kyum Resigned 30 November 2019 South Korea Nam Ki-il 26 December 2019[6]
Daejeon Hana Citizen South Korea Lee Heung-sil Sacked 2 December 2019[7] South Korea Hwang Sun-hong 4 January 2020[8]
Ansan Greeners South Korea Lim Wan-sup Resigned 23 December 2019[9] South Korea Kim Gil-sik 31 December 2019[10]
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Kim Jong-boo End of contract 26 December 2019[11] South Korea Seol Ki-hyeon 26 December 2019[12]

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to five per team, including a slot for a player from AFC and ASEAN countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game.

North Korean player An Byong-jun was deemed as a native player in K League by South Korean nationality law and passport.

Players in bold are players who join midway through the competition.

As of 2 August 2020[13]
Team Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC player ASEAN player Former player(s)
Ansan Greeners Brazil Anderson Canhoto Brazil Felipe Augusto Lebanon Soony Saad Spain Ismael Jorge Balea
Brazil Bruno Moreira
Bucheon FC 1995 Brazil William Barbio Brazil Jefferson Baiano
Chungnam Asan Austria Armin Mujakic Brazil Bruno Moreira Sweden Philip Hellquist
Daejeon Hana Citizen Brazil André Luis Brazil Bruno Baio Brazil Edinho Australia Connor Chapman
FC Anyang Brazil Maurides Brazil Nilson Júnior Ghana Maxwell Acosty Uzbekistan Khursid Giyosov
Gyeongnam FC Brazil Negueba Serbia Uroš Đerić Netherlands Luc Castaignos
Australia Nick Ansell
Jeju United Cyprus Valentinos Sielis Brazil Eder
Costa Rica Elías Aguilar
Jeonnam Dragons Brazil Hernandes Brazil Rodolfo Norway Julian Kristoffersen Uzbekistan Oleg Zoteev
Seoul E-Land Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Germany Richard Sukuta-Pasu Serbia Lazar Arsić
Suwon FC Brazil Danilo Alves Brazil Marlone South Africa Lars Veldwijk Japan Masatoshi Ishida Slovakia Ákos Szarka

League table

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Jeju United (C, P) 27 18 6 3 50 23 +27 60 Promotion to K League 1
2 Suwon FC (O, P) 27 17 3 7 52 28 +24 54 Qualification for promotion play-offs final
3 Gyeongnam FC 27 10 9 8 40 37 +3 39 Qualification for promotion play-offs first round
4 Daejeon Hana Citizen 27 11 6 10 36 35 +1 39
5 Seoul E-Land 27 11 6 10 33 30 +3 39
6 Jeonnam Dragons 27 8 14 5 31 25 +6 38
7 Ansan Greeners 27 7 7 13 18 34 −16 28
8 Bucheon FC 1995 27 7 5 15 19 36 −17 26
9 FC Anyang 27 6 7 14 27 38 −11 25
10 Chungnam Asan 27 5 7 15 20 40 −20 22
Source: K League Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Positions by matchday

  Leaders, promotion to K League 1
  Qualification for promotion play-offs final
  Qualification for promotion play-offs first round

Round 1–18

Source: K League

Round 19–27

Team ╲ Round192021222324252627
Jeju United111121111
Suwon FC222212222
Gyeongnam FC464545463
Daejeon Hana Citizen333356534
Seoul E-Land656434345
Jeonnam Dragons545663656
Ansan Greeners109910108997
Bucheon FC 1995888777878
FC Anyang777889789
Chungnam Asan910109910101010
Source: K League[14]

Results

Matches 1–18

Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN CNAS DJC GNM JJU JND SUE SWN
Ansan Greeners — 0–1 0–2 1–1 0–2 0–0 1–2 0–0 0–1 0–2
FC Anyang 0–1 — 2–1 1–1 0–0 2–3 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–2
Bucheon FC 1995 0–0 2–1 — 0–2 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 2–3 2–0
Chungnam Asan 1–1 0–2 0–1 — 1–2 2–1 0–2 0–2 0–1 0–5
Daejeon Hana Citizen 1–0 3–3 1–0 2–2 — 2–3 2–1 2–0 0–0 1–4
Gyeongnam FC 2–1 1–0 1–1 2–0 2–2 — 3–3 0–0 1–2 2–3
Jeju United 3–1 3–1 4–0 2–1 2–3 1–1 — 1–1 1–1 1–0
Jeonnam Dragons 4–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 — 1–2 1–2
Seoul E-Land 0–2 0–2 3–0 1–2 2–0 2–2 1–2 0–0 — 0–3
Suwon FC 1–2 3–2 1–2 1–1 1–2 3–1 1–1 2–2 2–0 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 19–27

Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN CNAS DJC GNM JJU JND SUE SWN
Ansan Greeners — 1–0 2–0 — 1–2 — — — 0–3 0–4
FC Anyang — — 0–0 — — — — 1–2 1–1 1–2
Bucheon FC 1995 — — — 0–0 — 3–4 0–2 1–1 — —
Chungnam Asan 0–1 0–2 — — 3–2 — 0–1 — — 0–2
Daejeon Hana Citizen — 3–0 0–1 — — — — — 1–2 0–1
Gyeongnam FC 1–2 1–0 — 3–1 1–0 — 0–1 — — —
Jeju United 1–1 4–1 — — 2–0 — — — 3–2 2–0
Jeonnam Dragons 0–0 — — 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–2 — — —
Seoul E-Land — — 3–0 0–1 — 1–0 — 1–1 — —
Suwon FC — — 1–0 — — 2–1 — 3–4 1–0 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion play-offs

The first round was contested between the third and fourth-placed teams, and the runners-up played the winners of the first round in the final. When the matches were finished as draws, their winners were decided on the regular season rankings without extra time and penalty shoot-outs.

Bracket

First round Final
2 Suwon FC 1
3 Gyeongnam FC 1 3 Gyeongnam FC 1
4 Daejeon Hana Citizen 1

First round

Gyeongnam FC1–1Daejeon Hana Citizen
Ko Kyung-min 69' Edinho 61'

Final

Suwon FC1–1Gyeongnam FC
An Byong-jun 90+8' (pen.) Choi Jun 27'
Attendance: 1,000

Suwon FC was promoted to K League 1.

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank Player[15] Club Goals
1 North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC 21
2 Brazil André Luis Daejeon Hana Citizen 13
3 Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Seoul E-Land 10
Japan Masatoshi Ishida Suwon FC
5 South Korea Gong Min-hyun Jeju United 9
South Korea Baek Sung-dong Gyeongnam FC
7 South Korea Joo Min-kyu Jeju United 8
8 Ghana Boadu Maxwell Acosty FC Anyang 7
Germany Richard Sukuta-Pasu Seoul E-Land
South Korea Ko Kyung-min Gyeongnam FC

Top assist providers

Rank Player[15] Club Assists
1 South Korea Kim Young-uk Jeju United 7
2 South Korea Hwang Il-su Gyeongnam FC 5
Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Seoul E-Land
4 South Korea Lim Chang-gyoon Jeonnam Dragons 4
Brazil Marlone Suwon FC
South Korea Park Gi-dong Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Kang Yoon-sung Jeju United
South Korea Jeong Woo-jae Jeju United
North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC
Japan Masatoshi Ishida Suwon FC

Awards

Weekly awards

Round Player of the Round
Player Club
1 South Korea Park Yong-ji Daejeon Hana Citizen
2 Brazil André Luis Daejeon Hana Citizen
3 North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC
4 Japan Masatoshi Ishida Suwon FC
5 South Korea Lee Hyun-il Bucheon FC 1995
6 Germany Richard Sukuta-Pasu Seoul E-Land
7 South Korea Kim Ryun-do Ansan Greeners
8 Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Seoul E-Land
9 Japan Masatoshi Ishida Suwon FC
10 Germany Richard Sukuta-Pasu Seoul E-Land
11 Japan Masatoshi Ishida Suwon FC
12 North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC
13 Brazil Leandro Ribeiro Seoul E-Land
14 South Korea Hwang Il-su Gyeongnam FC
Round Player of the Round
Player Club
15 South Korea Baek Sung-dong Gyeongnam FC
16 South Korea Jeong Woo-jae Jeju United
17 South Korea Lee Dong-ryul Jeju United
18 South Korea Hwang Ki-wook Jeonnam Dragons
19 South Korea Ahn Hyeon-beom Jeju United
20 South Africa Lars Veldwijk Suwon FC
21 South Korea Ko Kyung-min Gyeongnam FC
22 South Korea Jin Seong-uk Jeju United
23 South Korea Kim Jin-hwan Seoul E-Land
24 South Korea Park Chan-yong Jeonnam Dragons
25 Brazil Edinho Daejeon Hana Citizen
26 South Korea Jin Seong-uk Jeju United
27 South Korea Kim Ryun-do Ansan Greeners

Monthly awards

Month Manager of the Month
Manager Club Division
May South Korea Kim Nam-il Seongnam FC 1
June Portugal José Morais Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1
July South Korea Kim Do-hoon Ulsan Hyundai 1
August South Korea Nam Ki-il Jeju United 2
September South Korea Kim Gi-dong Pohang Steelers 1
October South Korea Nam Ki-il Jeju United 2

Annual awards

The 2020 K League Awards was held on 30 November 2020.

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC
Young Player of the Year South Korea Lee Dong-ryul Jeju United
Top goalscorer North Korea An Byong-jun Suwon FC
Top assist provider South Korea Kim Young-uk Jeju United
Manager of the Year South Korea Nam Ki-il Jeju United
Position Best XI
Goalkeeper South Korea Oh Seung-hoon (Jeju)
Defenders South Korea Ahn Hyeon-beom
(Jeju) 		South Korea Cho Yu-min
(Suwon FC) 		South Korea Chung Woon
(Jeju) 		South Korea Jeong Woo-jae
(Jeju)
Midfielders South Korea Baek Sung-dong
(Gyeongnam) 		South Korea Kim Young-uk
(Jeju) 		South Korea Lee Chang-min
(Jeju) 		South Korea Gong Min-hyun
(Jeju)
Forwards Brazil Leandro Ribeiro (Seoul E) North Korea An Byong-jun (Suwon FC)

See also

References

  1. ^ K리그 개막전, 5월8일 '불금' 전북-수원전 '전주성'서 무관중으로 열린다 (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
  2. ^ 아산무궁화프로축구단, 결국 해체 수순 (in Korean). Chungcheong Today. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  3. ^ K리그2 아산무궁화, 충남아산으로 새 출발…엠블럼도 교체 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 27 December 2019. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  4. ^ 수원FC 새 사령탑에 김도균 울산유스팀 총괄디렉터 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  5. ^ [공식발표] 서울 이랜드 FC, 원팀리더십 'U-20 대표팀' 정정용 감독 선임 (in Korean). Seoul E-Land. 30 November 2019.
  6. ^ 제주, 제 16대 사령탑으로 남기일 감독 선임 (in Korean). Jeju United. 26 December 2019.
  7. ^ 분통 터뜨린 이흥실 감독, "사실상 날 경질하는 게 아닌가" (in Korean). Best Eleven. 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  8. ^ K리그2 대전하나시티즌 창단…초대 감독에 황선홍 (in Korean). Yonhap News TV. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  9. ^ 안산 그리너스 FC 사령탑 임완섭 감독 사퇴. Ansan Greeners. Retrieved 24 December 2019.
  10. ^ 안산그리너스FC, 새 사령탑에 김길식 감독 선임 (in Korean). Ansan Greeners. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  11. ^ 경남FC, 김종부 감독 사퇴 발표..."영광의 날들 잊지 않겠다" (in Korean). Gyeongnam FC. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  12. ^ 경남FC 신임감독에 한일월드컵 주역 설기현 선임. Yonhap News Agency. 26 December 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
  13. ^ "K League". Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  14. ^ "K League" (in Korean). K League. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Record". K League. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

External links

  • Official website