2021 K League 2

The 2021 K League 2 was the ninth season of the K League 2, the second-tier South Korean professional league for association football clubs since its establishment in 2013, and the fourth one with its current name, the K League 2. The top-ranked team and the winner of the promotion-relegation play-off got promoted to the 2022 K League 1.

KEB Hana Bank
K League 2 2021
Season2021
Dates27 February – 31 October 2021
ChampionsGimcheon Sangmu
PromotedGimcheon Sangmu
Champions LeagueJeonnam Dragons (as 2021 Korean FA Cup winners)
Matches played180
Goals scored435 (2.42 per match)
Top goalscorerAn Byong-jun
(23 goals)
← 2020
2022 →

On 21 January 2021, the Korean Professional Football Union confirmed that the 2021 season of K League 2 will begin on 27 February 2021 with 36 regular season matches per team.[1]

Teams
Locations of the 2021 K League 2 teams

New Team

Sangju Sangmu was renamed to Gimcheon Sangmu and was relegated to K League 2 and moved to Gimcheon, North Gyeongsang, South Korea ahead for 2021 season after the club was dissolved in the 2020 season.

Team City Home venue
Ansan Greeners Ansan Ansan Wa~ Stadium
FC Anyang Anyang Anyang Stadium
Bucheon FC 1995 Bucheon Bucheon Stadium
Busan IPark Busan Busan Gudeok Stadium
Chungnam Asan Asan Yi Sun-sin Stadium
Daejeon Hana Citizen Daejeon Daejeon World Cup Stadium
Gimcheon Sangmu Gimcheon Gimcheon Stadium
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Changwon Football Center
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Gwangyang Stadium
Seoul E-Land Seoul Seoul Olympic Stadium

Stadiums
Ansan Greeners FC Anyang Bucheon FC 1995 Busan IPark Chungnam Asan
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Anyang Stadium Bucheon Stadium Busan Gudeok Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 17,143 Capacity: 34,456 Capacity: 12,349 Capacity: 17,376
Daejeon Hana Citizen Gimcheon Sangmu FC Gyeongnam FC Jeonnam Dragons Seoul E-Land
Daejeon World Cup Stadium Gimcheon Stadium Changwon Football Center Gwangyang Stadium Seoul Olympic Stadium
Capacity: 40,535 Capacity: 25,000 Capacity: 15,074 Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 69,950

Personnel and kits

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

Team Manager Kit manufacturer1 Main sponsor1
Ansan Greeners Kim Gil-sik Kappa Ansan Government
FC Anyang Lee Woo-hyung Joma Anyang Government
Bucheon FC 1995 Lee Young-min Kappa Bucheon Government
Busan IPark Ricardo Peres Adidas HDC Group
Chungnam Asan Park Dong-hyuk Mizuno Asan Government
Daejeon Hana Citizen Lee Min-sung Astore Hana Financial Group
Gimcheon Sangmu Kim Tae-wan Kelme
Gyeongnam FC Seol Ki-Hyeon Hummel Nonghyup
BNK Kyongnam Bank
Jeonnam Dragons Jeon Kyung-jun Puma POSCO
Seoul E-Land Chung Jung-yong New Balance E-Land

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming manager Date of
appointment
Busan IPark Lee Ki-Hyung End of caretaker spell November 25, 2020 Ricardo Peres November 25, 2020[2]

Foreign players

Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to five per team, including a slot for a player from AFC and ASEAN countries. Gimcheon Sangmu FC, being a military-owned team, is not allowed to sign any foreign players. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game. Players in bold are players who join midway through the competition. An Byong-jun, playing for Busan IPark,[3] was deemed to be a native player.

As of March 10, 2021[4]
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 AFC Player ASEAN Player Former Players
Ansan Greeners Santiago De Sagastizabal Anderson Canhoto Róbson Go Iwase Asnawi Mangkualam
FC Anyang Nilson Júnior Jonathan Moya Maxwell Acosty Ryosuke Tamura
Bucheon FC 1995 Crislan Wataru Murofushi
Busan IPark Domagoj Drožđek Valentinos Sielis Renato Santos Ryan Edwards
Chungnam Asan Alex Sandro Matheus Alves Ryohei Michibuchi
Daejeon Hana Citizen Bruno Baio Matheus Pato Masatoshi Ishida Ikromjon Alibaev Edinho
Gyeongnam FC Hernandes Willyan
Jeonnam Dragons Alex Jonathan Balotelli Samuel Nnamani Oleg Zoteyev
Seoul E-Land Nicolás Benegas William Barbio Leandro Yuki Kobayashi

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion or qualification
1 Gimcheon Sangmu (C) 36 20 11 5 60 34 +26 71 Promotion to 2022 K League 1
2 FC Anyang 36 17 11 8 51 37 +14 62 Qualification to K League 2 Playoff
3 Daejeon Hana Citizen 36 17 7 12 53 48 +5 58 Qualification to K League 2 Semi-playoff
4 Jeonnam Dragons 36 13 13 10 38 33 +5 52 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
and K League 2 Semi-playoff[lower-alpha 1]
5 Busan IPark 36 12 9 15 46 56 −10 45
6 Gyeongnam FC 36 11 10 15 40 45 −5 43
7 Ansan Greeners 36 11 10 15 37 49 −12 43
8 Chungnam Asan 36 11 8 17 38 41 −3 41
9 Seoul E-Land 36 8 13 15 40 39 +1 37
10 Bucheon FC 1995 36 9 10 17 32 53 −21 37
Source: Official website of K League SOCCERWAY
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champion
Notes:
  1. Qualified as 2021 Korean FA Cup winners

Positions by matchday

  Leader & Promotion to the 2022 K League 1
  Qualification to Relegation/promotion play-offs

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536
Gimcheon Sangmu496877868577875432132111111111111111
FC Anyang245986431112332211211344322222222222
Daejeon Hana Citizen248321112233213344455433233333333333
Jeonnam Dragons632564223321121123323222444444444444
Busan IPark10710458786756446555544555667777555555
Gyeongnam FC8109910101099888764677777766556655666666
Ansan Greeners424235445644557866666678888888778777
Chungnam Asan6837436779999999991099887775566887888
Bucheon FC 199586769991010101010101010101010910101010101010109101010109999
Seoul E-Land11111235446568878888899999910999910101010
Updated to match(es) played on 31 October 2021. Source: kleague.com

Results

Matches 1–18
Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN BSI CNAS DJC GCS GNM JND SUE
Ansan Greeners — 3–2 2–2 2–3 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–2 0–1 1–1
FC Anyang 1–2 — 2–0 2–1 2–1 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 0–0
Bucheon FC 1995 0–1 0–0 — 0–2 1–0 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1
Busan IPark 1–1 4–5 1–1 — 0–0 4–1 2–1 2–3 0–1 0–3
Chungnam Asan 0–2 2–2 0–1 4–0 — 3–1 1–2 2–1 0–1 0–0
Daejeon Hana Citizen 0–0 1–2 4–1 1–2 1–1 — 1–2 2–1 1–1 2–1
Gimcheon Sangmu 3–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 — 1–2 1–1 2–0
Gyeongnam FC 1–1 1–2 3–0 1–2 2–1 1–2 1–2 — 0–2 0–0
Jeonnam Dragons 2–0 0–1 0–2 1–2 0–0 1–2 2–1 1–0 — 3–0
Seoul E-Land 1–0 1–2 4–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 4–0 1–1 1–1 —
Source: K League 2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Matches 19–36
Home \ Away ASG AYG BCN BSI CNAS DJC GCS GNM JND SUE
Ansan Greeners — 1–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 0–2 0–1 3–1 1–1 0–3
FC Anyang 1–1 — 4–1 1–1 1–0 1–2 2–2 0–0 1–1 2–1
Bucheon FC 1995 4–3 0–1 — 0–0 0–0 4–2 0–1 2–3 1–2 0–3
Busan IPark 4–0 1–3 0–1 — 2–1 1–1 0–6 1–0 0–1 1–1
Chungnam Asan 0–1 0–2 1–0 3–2 — 3–4 1–2 2–1 0–0 2–1
Daejeon Hana Citizen 4–1 3–1 1–1 3–1 1–0 — 1–4 1–0 2–1 0–2
Gimcheon Sangmu 1–0 2–4 2–0 2–2 2–0 2–1 — 0–0 3–1 3–1
Gyeongnam FC 0–2 2–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 1–0 2–3 — 0–2 3–3
Jeonnam Dragons 2–3 1–2 1–2 2–0 0–3 0–0 2–2 0–0 — 1–0
Seoul E-Land 0–0 0–1 1–2 1–2 1–3 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 —
Source: K League 2
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The Semi-playoff is contested between the 3rd and 4th placed teams in the K League 2. The winners advance to the Playoff to face the 2nd placed team in the K League 2, and the winners advance to the Promotion-relegation playoffs to match against the 11th placed team in the K League 1. The winners of that tie secure a place in the 2022 K League 1.

If scores are tied after regular time in the Semi-playoff and Playoff rounds, the higher-placed team will advance to the next phase. The same conditions do not apply for the Promotion-relegation playoffs, which are held instead over two legs.

  Semi-playoff Playoff Promotion-relegation Playoffs
                            
    K1 (11) Gangwon FC 0 4 4
    K2 (2) FC Anyang 1     K2 (3) Daejeon Hana Citizen 1 1 2
K2 (3) Daejeon Hana Citizen 0     K2 (3) Daejeon Hana Citizen 3  
K2 (4) Jeonnam Dragons 0

Semi-playoff
Daejeon Hana Citizen0–0Jeonnam Dragons
Report
Attendance: 1,982
Referee: Ahn Jae-hoon

Playoff
FC Anyang1–3Daejeon Hana Citizen
Jonathan Moya 12' Report Park Jin-sub 32'
Bruno Baio 69', 85'
Attendance: 2,789
Referee: Park Byung-jin

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The Promotion-relegation play-offs were contested between the winners of K League 2 play-offs and the 11th placed team in K League 1.

Gangwon FC won 4–2 on aggregate, to secure a place in the 2022 K League 1 season.

8 December 2021 First legDaejeon Hana Citizen1–0 Gangwon FC Hanbat Sports Complex, Daejeon
19:00 KST Lee Hyeon-sik 51'
12 December 2021 Second leg Gangwon FC 4–1Daejeon Hana CitizenGangneung Stadium, Gangneung
14:00 KST Lee Ji-sol 26' (o.g.)
Lim Chae-min 28'
Han Kook-young 31'
Hwang Mun-ki 90+3'		 17' Lee Jong-hyeon

Season statistics

Awards

Most Valuable Player of the Round

Season Awards

The 2021 K League Awards was held on 18 November 2021.

K League 2 Most Valuable Player

K League 2 Young Player

K League 2 Top Scorer

K League 2 Top Assistor

K League 2 Best XI
Position Player Club
Goalkeeper Gu Sung-yun Gimcheon Sangmu
Defender Seo Young-jae Daejeon Hana Citizen
Defender Jung Seung-hyun Gimcheon Sangmu
Defender Joo Hyeon-woo FC Anyang
Defender Choi Jun Busan IPark
Midfielder Kim Kyung-jung FC Anyang
Midfielder Kim Hyeon-uk Jeonnam Dragons
Midfielder Masatoshi Ishida Daejeon Hana Citizen
Midfielder Park Jin-sub Daejeon Hana Citizen
Forward An Byong-jun Busan IPark
Forward Jonathan Moya FC Anyang

K League Manager of the Year

Controversies

On December 12, 2021, Gangwon FC and Daejeon Hana Citizen faced one another in the second leg of the Promotion-relegation play-offs, with the latter team finding himself in advantage after winning the first leg 1–0. Played at Gangneung Stadium, Gangwon's home soil, the match saw the hosts secure a 4-1 comeback victory and maintain their spot in K League 1. However, the game was marred by a series of incidents, occurring between the first and the second half. After Han Kook-young had scored Gangwon's third goal in the 31st minute, the ball boys around the stadium reportedly started to delay giving the ball back to Daejeon players, an event that happened multiple times during the match and was possibly meant to waste time in favour of the hosts: the fans in the away sector reacted furiously, with some of them throwing plastic bottles in direction of one of the ball boys. The game still went ahead, as six minutes of extra time were added at the end of the second half. The K League administration decided to open an official investigation on the controversial events.[6][7]

When asked to talk about the incidents, Gangwon's director Lee Young-pyo originally dismissed them, pointing out that similar instances were already common in European football, but later apologized, saying that he felt "direct responsibility" for the "unsmooth match" and promising that he would work so that Gangwon FC would become "a mature club" in the future.[6] Meanwhile, on December 21, just hours before K League's final disciplinary meeting took place, the Daejeon board released an official response to the matter, stating that there was "clear evidence of the game delays being intentional and organized", as well as noticing that such acts violated the league's Code of Ethics for fair play and respect.[6][8]

In the end, the league's administration decided to keep the final score unchanged: however, Gangwon FC was fined 30 million Korean Won ($25,000) for the episodes of time wasting, whereas Daejeon Hana Citizen was fined 2 million Korean Won ($1,677) for their fans' behavior towards one of the ball boys.[6][7]

See also

Notes

    References
    1. "[공식발표] K리그2, 2월 27일 개막..경남vs안양으로 스타트" (in Korean). InterFootball. 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
    2. "OFFICIAL | Busan IPark have appointed ex-Casa Pia manager Ricardo Peres as a new manager of the team". Twitter. November 25, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    3. Wilde, Todd (January 22, 2021). "Busan IPark have announced the signing of K League 2 MVP and 2020 top scorer Ahn Byung-jun. The North Korean international signs from Suwon FC". Twitter. Retrieved January 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    4. "2021 K League 2 Foreign Players".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
    5. "K LEAGUE / Record". Archived from the original on 2019-04-16. Retrieved 2021-01-21.
    6. Neat, Paul (2021-12-21). "Gangwon FC fined for Playoff Final "ballboy controversy"". K League United. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
    7. 이석무 (2021-12-21). "'볼보이 고의 지연 논란' 강원FC, 제재금 3천만원..."구단 책임 커"". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
    8. 기자, 김명석 (2021-12-21). ""강원 볼보이 논란, 누군가 지시 없이는 불가능" 대전, 철저한 진상조사 요구". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2021-12-21.
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