Daegu: Daegu FC, struggling at the bottom of the South Korean football league, has announced the appointment of Kim Byung-soo as their new head coach. This decision comes over a month after their previous coach, Park Chang-hyun, resigned on April 13 due to the team's poor performance at the start of the 2025 K League 1 season.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Daegu FC was in 11th place out of 12 clubs when Park stepped down, with a record of two wins, one draw, and six losses. Under interim coach Suh Dong-won, the team managed only one win, one draw, and four losses, slipping to the last position. Kim Byung-soo, who previously led Gangwon FC from 2018 to 2021 and Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2023, has been chosen to address the club's challenges with new strategic and tactical approaches.
Daegu FC expressed confidence in Kim's ability to revitalize the team, highlighting his tactical skills and creativity in organizing play. "At his previous coaching stops, Kim showed his considerable tactical acumen," the club stated, emphasizing his strength in fostering creative and organized passing among his teams. Kim's style, known as "Byung-soo Ball," gained recognition during his tenure with Gangwon FC.
Kim acknowledged the difficulties faced by Daegu FC and their supporters and expressed his commitment to turning the situation around. The club narrowly avoided relegation to K League 2 in 2024 and is now at risk of direct relegation. Kim emphasized his dedication to maximizing the potential of the current players and maintaining a positive training environment.
Despite the mid-season timing, Kim accepted the coaching role after receiving a call from Daegu FC last week. He intends to focus on simplicity and winning matches to improve the team's standing, acknowledging the limited time available to rebuild. Kim also noted that Daegu FC's traditional "defend first, counterattack later" strategy may need adjustment due to injuries affecting the squad.
Kim is set to meet with his players on Thursday and will make his coaching debut for Daegu FC on Sunday against Gwangju FC at home. The match will take place in Daegu, approximately 235 kilometers southeast of Seoul.