‘Guard of Honor’ will be held at ‘Amano Derby’.

‘Eternal Hyundai rivals’ Ulsan Hyundai and Jeonbuk Hyundai will play the opening match of ‘Hana One Q K League 1 2023’ at Ulsan Munsu Stadium at 2:00 pm on the 25th.

Things have changed this season. Ulsan has to defend the trophy as the defending champion, and Jeonbuk will try to recapture it. Last year, Ulsan surpassed Jeonbuk and won the league title for the first time in 17 years. Maintain the top of the difficult climb and challenge for a second consecutive victory. While most of the key players were kept, Kim Min-hyeok and Joo Min-gyu joined the team. In addition, Esaka, Rubiksson, and Boyanich add strength as foreign new faces.

Jeonbuk’s goal is clear.안전놀이터 Along with recapturing the league trophy, we challenge the triple crown (League, FA Cup, Asian Football Federation Champions League). The storm recruiting proves this. He embraced Jung Tae-wook, Lee Soo-bin, Kim Gun-woong, Lee Dong-jun, and Jung Woo-jae. National striker Cho Kyu-seong announced his summer transfer and stayed with the team for six months, and Rafael and Andre were also recruited. With a strong squad, they dream of a decisive victory.

Jun Amano ignites the fierce rivalry. Amano was loaned to Ulsan from Yokohama F. Marinos last season and played a big role. He led Ulsan to the championship with his left-footed kick and passing ability. However, this season, he chose to rent Jeonbuk. Ulsan coach Hong Myung-bo criticized him for being “the worst Japanese player” and Amano also refuted, saying “Ulsan’s proposal was late.” It’s like the ‘Amano Derby’ has been held since the opening.

Now, the gaze is directed to ‘Guard of Honor’. Guard of Honor refers to an event in which the opposing team lines up before kickoff and applauds the winning team as it enters.

Jeonbuk, which achieved 5 consecutive league titles by the 2022 season, was congratulated in the opening game. Last season’s Suwon FC, 2021 season’s FC Seoul, and 2020 season’s Suwon Samsung, the opposing team’s players lined up in a row and applauded the Jeonbuk players as they entered.

Hong Jeong-ho, the captain of Jeonbuk, said at the ‘Opening Media Day’ on the 20th, “I remember that the opposing team congratulated me when Jeonbuk won the championship. I think last year’s winning team should be congratulated because it is Ulsan,” he hinted at the Guard of Honor. In response, Jung Seung-hyun said, “I would be grateful if you congratulated me, but the game is more important.”

The ‘Guard of Honor’ will also be held in the opening game of this season. An official from the Korea Professional Football Federation said, “Guard of Honor is not set by the rules. As a board resolution, it is being implemented after seeking cooperation from the opposing team. Since the official letter of cooperation has been delivered, it will be held in the opening match between Jeonbuk and Ulsan.”

As the progress of Guard of Honor is confirmed, if Amano starts, we must watch the position of Ulsan players. A player who made a big success to the extent of receiving applause can now come up with a congratulatory picture from the opponent’s point of view. The battle for the championship begins in earnest with ‘Amano’s Guard of Honor’.

[Guard of Honor · Jun Amano · Last season’s opening match between Ulsan and Jeonbuk.