“For the past three and a half years, Hong Myung-bo (55) has made the team well. I will take this to the next level.”
This is what Kim Pan-gon (55), the new coach of Ulsan HD, said.
Ulsan officially announced on the 28th that it appointed Kim Pan-gon to replace Hong Myung-bo, who left for the national team. On the 5th, he held a press conference at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Sinmun-ro, Seoul, to inaugurate the 12th coach of Ulsan. Coach Kim Pan-gon made a strong determination by receiving questions from reporters along with his inaugural speech.
As a new coach, he has a heavy responsibility to take over. In the 2024 season, Ulsan aims to win the K-League 1 and the Korea Cup together. Coach Kim Pan-gon, who took the helm of a big club during the season, has no choice but to feel heavy on his shoulders.
Kim Pan-gon, who played for Ulsan as a player, said, “I thought I should go to Ulsan once. I felt it was good timing at the end of the season, but not now,” expressing confidence, saying, “With experience as a national team coach, I can improve my team’s performance faster.” In fact, Kim proved his capability by taking the helm of Malaysia. Notably, he made a strong impression by holding a 3-3 draw against the Korean national team at the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup.
As he assumed the post during this season, he is not expected to make any significant changes immediately. He pledged to maintain the tactics of his predecessor, Hong Myung-bo, to a certain extent, while changing his color quickly. “For the past three and a half years, Hong has developed his team well. He will continue to lead soccer,” Kim said. “I hope the team will dominate the game for 90 minutes. I will actively play soccer. I will display tactics to induce the opponent team’s mistakes by aggressive defense.” 안전놀이터
Coach Kim Pan-gon is a leader who has experience both in administration and as a head coach of the Hong Kong national team, as well as serving as a head coach for the Busan I’Park and the Hong Kong national team. Like Sir Alex Ferguson (former Manchester United), he is dreaming of becoming a manager-type coach.
“Actually, it’s a trade secret,” said Kim Pan-gon, who cited Sir Ferguson as his biggest inspiration. “The way Ferguson won was impressive. It is included in my game model. I felt like a manager, not a head coach. I will respect the club and try to find a reasonable way.”
This is Kim Pan-gon’s first challenge as the K-League’s head coach. Despite the tight schedule, Kim also expressed his commitment to get the team back on track quickly. “I will try to win the K-League 1, the Korea Cup, and the Asian Champions League (ACL) finals,” Kim said. “Club World Cup is my motivation. I will give joy to my fans. Please give me a lot of support and advice.”