Incheon: Taking over fallen giants in the top South Korean football league, new Ulsan HD FC head coach Kim Hyun-seog said Tuesday he will try to take the club back to relevance. Kim, a former MVP-winning star for Ulsan during his playing days, was named the K League 1 club's new gaffer on Christmas Eve. Ulsan, after winning three straight titles from 2022 to 2024, finished in ninth place among 12 clubs in a tumultuous 2025 season, in which they cycled through two head coaches.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim, who spent his entire 12-year K League playing career with Ulsan, expressed his eagerness for the new season to begin. "I am really excited. I have a great opportunity here, and I will do my best to put Ulsan back in a proper place," Kim told reporters at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, before the team traveled to the United Arab Emirates for an offseason training camp. He emphasized that the team should be contending for a title and set a primary goal of reaching the top three, promising an aggressive style of play to achieve this.
Kim also highlighted his intention to help the players regain their confidence following a challenging season. "It will not be easy, but if we keep putting in the work, we will be able to get the last laugh," he added.
In his post-playing career, Kim has coached a couple of clubs in the second-tier K League 2, with this being his first assignment in the top division. "When I got an offer from Ulsan, I didn't even hesitate. I've always wanted to be a head coach for this club because I played here," Kim said. He is keen to demonstrate his capability to succeed in K League 1.
So far, Ulsan have not been as active as other title contenders in the transfer market, aside from recalling some players who were out on loan. Nonetheless, Kim assured that the management is actively pursuing talks with available players. "We do have really talented players on the team already. I will try to bring out the best in them," Kim said. The training camp will focus on building relationships based on mutual trust and respect, with Kim confident that challenges can be overcome through collective effort.