(Suwon = Yonhap News) Reporter Bae Jin-nam = Professional soccer coach Lee Jeong-hyo, who led the promotion to K-League 1 in his first year as head coach of Suwon Samsung, pledged to never let the team fall to the second division again.
Suwon won 2-0 in the home game between Yongin FC and Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 32 held at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the 8th, confirming promotion to K League 1 next season regardless of the results of the remaining two games.
Suwon, who accumulated 66 points with today's victory, widened the gap with 3rd place Seoul E-Land (57 points) to 9 points, and can take at least second place even if they lose both of the remaining games.
Those ranked 1st and 2nd in K League 2 this season will be automatically promoted to K League 1 next season, and those ranked 3rd to 6th will have an additional opportunity for promotion through the playoffs.
Suwon is 6 points ahead of 2nd place Suwon FC (60 points), and can even win the league on its own by earning just 1 point from the remaining two games.
Suwon remained at the bottom of the K League 1 in the 2023 season and suffered the humiliation of being relegated to the second division for the first time since its founding. After spending three years in the second division until this year, it finally returned to the first division.
Coach Lee said after the game, "We had a strong will to decide on promotion at home. The entire team came together as one and brought about a good result."
Director Lee emphasized, “Now we have taken the first step.”
He said, “Now we have to go up to Division 1 and play a lot of games. “I think this is a new start to repay the fans’ greater expectations,” he said, adding, “We must work hard and steadily to ensure that Suwon, a prestigious club, never falls to the second division again.”
Looking back on the past year, Coach Lee said, “I trusted the young players and (seniors) Hong Jeong-ho and Ko Seung-beom. “I believed that as time passed and games were played, experience accumulated and players grew, we would become a good team,” he said. “There were difficulties, but we were able to overcome them thanks to the club that made bold investments and the front office that worked hard behind the scenes.”
Coach Lee also has experience leading promotion in 2022 as soon as he became the head coach of Gwangju FC, which also belonged to K League 2.
Regarding Suwon’s promotion, he said, “It’s just the beginning. “It doesn’t mean much because we’ve already achieved promotion,” he said. “However, we have taken the first step in the direction of the prestigious Suwon.” “There is nothing else other than that part,” he said.
Regarding Suwon's young players who showed potential this season, he coolly evaluated them, saying, "Looking at their current skills, I don't think they will succeed in the first division." He continued, “I don’t know if we will work harder during the off-season, but for now, we need to work harder.”
Regarding Suwon's direction of returning to K-League 1, Coach Lee said he would discuss with the club, but added, "Suwon must try to win every game. You always have to score a goal. “The training process is important to score a goal,” he said, adding, “It is important to get results, but now that we have created the process for Suwon to advance to a prestigious place, the process is important to advance to even greater heights in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League and K-League 1.” He emphasized the ‘consistent process.’
Director Lee said that he wants to continue to break the greater expectations placed on him in the future.
Coach Lee, who has often said that he hopes those who dream of becoming a leader will gain strength when they see him as an unknown player but recognized as a leader, also said on this day, "I was weak when I was a player, but I don't think I am now. “Now I have confidently led promotion to K-League 1, and I think I can confidently compete with any manager,” he said. “I may have been weak as a player, but I am building my managerial career from now on.” “I hope that among the players I coach, there will be leaders like me,” he said.
