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

Ulsan HD FC
Full nameUlsan HD Football Club
울산 HD 축구단
Nickname(s)호랑이 (Tigers)
Founded1983;41 years ago(1983)(asHyundai Horang-i)
GroundUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity37,897
OwnerHD Hyundai Heavy Industries
ChairmanChung Mong-joon
Head coachKim Pan-gon
LeagueK League 1
2024K League 1, 1st of 12 (champions)
Websiteuhfc.tv
Current season

Ulsan HD have won the league title five times, most recently in2024,and theKorean FA Cuponce, in2017.At international level, they have won theAFC Champions Leaguetwice, in2012and2020.

History

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Early years: before Ulsan (1983–1989)

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The club was founded on 6 December 1983 as Hyundai Horang-i, with tiger as its mascot (horangi means tiger in Korean). Their original franchise area wasIncheonandGyeonggi Province.[3]They joined the professionalK Leaguefrom1984season. While they finished their debut season as 3rd place, the team's strikerBaek Jong-chulbecame theK League Top Scorer,scoring 16 goals in 28 matches. They won their first professional trophy in 1986, winning theProfessional Football Championship,which is the origin ofKorean League Cup.From the1987season, the club moved their franchise fromIncheonandGyeonggi ProvincetoGangwon Province.In the1988season, they finished the season as the runners-up in the league.

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

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Beginning in the1990season, the club moved their franchise toUlsan,where the headquarters of several branches of owner companyHyundaiare located at, fromGangwon Province.FormerSouth Korea's strikerCha Bum-kuntook the managerial position in the1991season, 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 byKo Jae-wookafter the1994season. Under Ko Jae-wook, Ulsan won their second Korean League Cup trophy in1995,which was his debut season as Ulsan manager. Ulsan won their first ever league title in1996,beatingSuwon Samsung Bluewings3–2 on aggregate in thechampionship playoffs.The club then entered a long dry-spell in terms of league trophies, although they won their third Korean League Cup trophy in1998,beatingBucheon SK2–1 on aggregate in the finals.

Two Kims era (2000–2013)

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2012 AFC Champions League finalatUlsan Munsu Football Stadium

Failure to add a major title for years did affect the team negatively. After the exodus of key players likeKim Hyun-seokand a terrible start in the2000,manager Ko Jae-wook resigned in the middle of the season.

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

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Ulsan appointedKim Jung-nam,who had formerly managed South Korea, as their next manager. They finished as runners-up in2002and2003,and started to emerge as a strong force. In 2005, with the return of two key players,Yoo Sang-chulandLee Chun-soo,they qualified for thechampionship playoffs.In the play-off semi-final, they beatSeongnam Ilhwa2–1, and in the final, they beatIncheon United6–3 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 theA3 Champions Cupin2006,in which they participated as K League champions. Although they lost their first match in the competition againstJEF United Ichihara Chiba3–2, they beatDalian Shide4–0 andGamba Osaka6–0 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 theAFC Champions Leaguethat season, beatingAl-Shabab6–0 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 the2007 Korean League Cup,beatingFC Seoul2–1 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)

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Manager Kim Jung-nam stepped down after the 2008 season.Kim Ho-kon,who had managed the South Koreaunder-23 teamthat reached the quarter-finals in the2004 Summer Olympicswas 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, beatingBusan IPark3–2 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 theAFC Champions League,defeatingAl-Ahli3–0 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

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Current squad

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As of 31 July 2024[8]

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK KOR Jo Su-huk
2 DF KOR Sim Sang-min
4 DF KOR Kim Kee-hee(captain)
5 DF KOR Lim Jong-eun
6 MF SWE Darijan Bojanić
7 MF KOR Ko Seung-beom
8 MF KOR Lee Kyu-seong
9 MF GEO Giorgi Arabidze
10 MF KOR Kim Min-woo
11 FW KOR Um Won-sang
13 DF KOR Lee Myung-jae
17 MF SWE Gustav Ludwigson
18 FW KOR Joo Min-kyu(vice-captain)
19 DF KOR Kim Young-gwon
20 DF KOR Hwang Seok-ho
21 GK KOR Jo Hyeon-woo
22 MF KOR Kim Min-hyeok
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 DF KOR Kim Ju-hwan
26 FW KOR Kim Min-jun
27 MF KOR Lee Chung-yong
28 MF KOR Jang Si-young
30 MF KOR Kang Yun-gu
31 MF JPN Ataru Esaka
32 MF KOR Jung Woo-young
33 DF KOR Kang Min-woo
37 GK KOR Moon Hyun-ho
70 MF KOR Choi Kang-min
73 FW KOR Yun Il-lok
82 MF KOR Won Du-jae
91 FW KOR Park Chu-young
95 MF BRA Matheus Sales
96 FW KOR Kim Ji-hyeon
99 FW BRA Yago Cariello

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF KOR Cho Hyun-taek(toGimcheon Sangmufor military service)
DF KOR Choi Seok-hyeon(toChungbuk Cheongju)
DF KOR Hong Jae-seok(toJeju United)
DF KOR Lee Jae-won(toCheonan City)
MF KOR Hwang Jae-hwan(toBucheon FC 1995)
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF KOR Kim Dong-uk(toJeonnam Dragons)
MF KOR Lee Dong-gyeong(toGimcheon Sangmufor military service)
MF KOR Lee Jae-wook(toSuwon Samsung Bluewings)
MF KOR Park Sang-jun(toGyeongju KHNP)

Managers

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No. Name From To Honours
1 Moon Jung-sik 12 July 1983 22 April 1986
C Cho Chung-yun 22 April 1986 December 1986 Professional Football Championship
2 December 1986 30 December 1987
3 Kim Ho 30 December 1987 19 November 1990
4 Cha Bum-kun 23 November 1990 27 November 1994
5 Ko Jae-wook 30 November 1994 12 June 2000 1995 Korean League Cup
1996 K League
1998 Korean League Cup
C Chung Jong-soo 12 June 2000 21 August 2000
6 Kim Jung-nam 22 August 2000 25 December 2008 2005 K League
2007 Korean League Cup
7 Kim Ho-kon 26 December 2008 4 December 2013 2011 Korean League Cup
2012 AFC Champions League
8 Cho Min-kook 6 December 2013 1 December 2014
9 Yoon Jung-hwan 1 December 2014 14 November 2016
10 Kim Do-hoon 21 November 2016 20 December 2020 2017 Korean FA Cup
2020 AFC Champions League
11 Hong Myung-bo 24 December 2020 11 July 2024 2022 K League 1
2023 K League 1
C Lee Kyung-soo 11 July 2024 28 July 2024
12 Kim Pan-gon 28 July 2024 present 2024 K League 1

Honours

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Ulsan Hyundai players lifting their second AFC Champions League trophy in 2020

Domestic

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League

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Cups

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  1. ^abReserve team

International

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Season-by-season records

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Domestic record

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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
2024 1 12 1
Key
  • Tms. = Number of teams
  • Pos. = Position in league

AFC Champions League record

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All results list Ulsan's goal tally first.

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

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Ulsan Hyundai rebrand as Ulsan HD with new all-blue logo".Korea JoongAng Daily.14 December 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 14 December 2023.Retrieved14 December2023.
  2. ^Jee-ho, Yoo (14 December 2023)."K League 1 champions Ulsan Hyundai FC renamed Ulsan HD FC for new season".Yonhap News Agency.Archivedfrom the original on 25 December 2023.Retrieved25 December2023.
  3. ^"울산현대축구단".울산현대축구단.Archivedfrom the original on 15 August 2011.Retrieved27 December2015.
  4. ^울산, 6년 전 '아시아 깡패' 부활위한 3가지 조건(in Korean). Sports Chosun. 20 September 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 9 September 2023.Retrieved26 December2015.
  5. ^"History: Ulsan Hyundai Football Club".Ulsan Hyundai FC.Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2021.Retrieved9 June2021.
  6. ^김호곤, 편견과 싸워 이긴 울산 사령탑 5년(in Korean). Best Eleven. 5 December 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 9 September 2023.Retrieved26 December2015.
  7. ^Duerden, John (10 November 2012)."Ulsan's ultimate victory".ESPN FC. Archived fromthe originalon 3 January 2013.
  8. ^"선수단".uhfc.tv(in Korean). Ulsan HD FC.Retrieved9 May2024.
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