Hwaseong FC of the K3 League will join the K-League. An outline of the first coach was also revealed. Cha Du-ri (44), former coach of the A-team, is the most likely candidate.
According to a soccer official, Hwaseong City recently submitted an application to the Korea Professional Football Association for membership. After completing most of the working-level procedures for professionalization, the association has also reportedly completed its due diligence. Hwaseong City will officially announce its entry into the K-League soon. The association will hold a board meeting on Monday to decide whether to join or not. If passed, Hwaseong will be the 14th club in the K-League 2.
Established in 2013, Hwaseong started from the Challengers League, a fourth division league. After ranking third in its first year, Hwaseong instantly rose to the rank of powerhouse by winning the championship in 2014. After winning the title again in 2019, Hwaseong became the first team in the FA Cup to advance to the semifinals. Hwaseong, which came to the K3 League (third division league) with the reorganization of the league in 2020, won another championship in 2023.
With a budget of more than 5 billion won a year, 35,270-seat home stadium (Hwasong Gyeonggi Town) and an average of more than 1,000 spectators, Hwaseong has been fiddling with the professionalization card early on. Hwaseong City, which has been working behind the scenes to become a professional since last year, has made the move in earnest this year. Following the formation of a professional TF team, it gradually prepared to enter the professional league by forming a consensus among citizens through various activities such as the ‘Million Hwaseong Boom Up Project’.
Hwaseong, which announced its intention to join the federation, also started to form a team of players at the same time. Hwaseong was the first team that started appointing a coach. A personnel committee was held to select candidates. About 10 people, from star to veteran, were on the list. It has been narrowed down to three recently, and former coach Cha Du-ri has emerged as a strong candidate.
Coach Cha is a legend in Korean soccer. Starting as the son of Cha Bum-kun, Cha Bum-kun, Cha established his own firm ground. Cha, who led the team to the semi-finals of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup, played in Germany and Scotland. In 2013, he moved to FC Seoul in a surprise move and enjoyed the K-League stage. He retired in 2015. He played 76 matches for the A-team including two World Cups. With his bright image, Cha was a star player across the nation. 안전놀이터
After retirement, Cha joined the A team as a power analyst at the request of then-coach Uli Stielike in 2016 and began his leadership career. Since then, he has obtained A-level certificates and served as a coach for the A team. Coach Cha, who became the first coach to take the helm of Osan High School in 2019, has been recognized for his ability and served as a head of the Seoul Youth Reinforcement Office. He then served as technical advisor and coach for the A team from 2023 to 2024 with Jurgen Klinsmann’s love call.
Coach Cha, who was teaching under a P-level license from the Korea Football Association, was shaken by Hwaseong’s strong love call. The reason why Cha was shaken is because his father, Cha Bum-keun, is born in Hwaseong. As much as he takes his first step as a professional coach in his father’s hometown, it is meaningful. Coach Cha, a superstar, is the best card for Hwaseong, which has to catch the attention of fans as a new K League 2 club. Although there is still a process to go through, Hwaseong plans to complete the appointment process as soon as possible and start forming a team.