2015 K League Classic
The 2015 K League Classic was the 33rd season of the top division of South Korean professional football, and the third season of the K League Classic.
Teams
Daejeon Citizen
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The 2015 K League Classic was the 33rd season of the top division of South Korean professional football, and the third season of the K League Classic.
| Club | City/Province | Manager | Owner(s) | Other sponsor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan IPark | Busan |  Yoon Sung-hyo
|
HDC Hyundai Development Company | |
Daejeon Citizen
|
Daejeon | Cho Jin-ho
|
Daejeon Government | |
| Gwangju FC | Gwangju | Nam Ki-il
|
Gwangju Government | |
Incheon United
|
Incheon | Kim Do-hoon
|
Incheon Government | Shinhan Bank Incheon International Airport |
| Jeju United | Jeju
|
Jo Sung-hwan
|
SK Energy | |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Jeonbuk
|
Choi Kang-hee
|
Hyundai Motor Company | |
| Jeonnam Dragons | Jeonnam
|
Roh Sang-rae
|
POSCO | |
| Pohang Steelers | Gyeongbuk
|
Hwang Sun-hong
|
POSCO | |
| Seongnam FC | Gyeonggi
|
Kim Hak-bum
|
Seongnam Government | |
| FC Seoul | Seoul | Choi Yong-soo
|
GS Group | |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Gyeonggi
|
Seo Jung-won
|
Cheil Worldwide | Samsung Electronics |
Ulsan Hyundai
|
Ulsan | Yoon Jung-hwan
|
Hyundai Heavy Industries
|
| Busan IPark | Daejeon Citizen
|
Gwangju FC | Incheon United
|
Jeju United | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Busan Asiad Stadium
|
Daejeon World Cup Stadium | Gwangju World Cup Stadium | Incheon Football Stadium | Jeju World Cup Stadium | Jeonju World Cup Stadium |
| Capacity: 53,864 | Capacity: 41,295 | Capacity: 44,118 | Capacity: 20,891 | Capacity: 35,657 | Capacity: 42,477 |
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| Jeonnam Dragons | Pohang Steelers | Seongnam FC | FC Seoul | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Ulsan Hyundai
|
| Gwangyang Football Stadium | Pohang Steel Yard | Tancheon Stadium | Seoul World Cup Stadium | Suwon World Cup Stadium | Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium |
| Capacity: 20,009 | Capacity: 25,000 | Capacity: 16,250 | Capacity: 66,704 | Capacity: 43,959 | Capacity: 44,474 |
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| Team | Outgoing | Manner | Date | Incoming | Date | Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeonnam Dragons | Ha Seok-ju
|
Resigned | 29 November 2014 | Roh Sang-rae
|
29 November 2014 | Pre-season |
Ulsan Hyundai
|
Cho Min-kook
|
Sacked | 1 December 2014 | Yoon Jung-hwan
|
1 December 2014 | |
Jeju United
|
Park Kyung-hoon
|
Resigned | 3 December 2014 | Jo Sung-hwan
|
12 December 2014 | |
Incheon United
|
Kim Bong-gil
|
Sacked | 19 December 2014 | Kim Do-hoon
|
13 January 2015 | |
| Gwangju FC | Nam Ki-il (caretaker)
|
Promoted | 4 January 2015 | Nam Ki-il
|
4 January 2015 | |
| Daejeon Citizen | Cho Jin-ho
|
Resigned | 21 May 2015 |  Michael Kim (caretaker)
|
21 May 2015 | 12th |
| Daejeon Citizen | Michael Kim (caretaker)
|
Resigned | 26 May 2015 | Choi Moon-sik
|
27 May 2015 | 12th |
| Busan IPark | Yoon Sung-hyo
|
Resigned | 13 July 2015 |  Denis Iwamura (caretaker)
|
13 July 2015 | 11th |
| Busan IPark | Denis Iwamura (caretaker)
|
Caretaker | 7 October 2015 | Choi Young-jun
|
7 October 2015 | 11th |
Restricting the number of foreign players strictly to four per team, including a slot for a player from AFC countries. A team could use four foreign players on the field each game including a least one player from the AFC country. Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.
| Club | Player 1 | Player 2 | Player 3 | Asian player | Former players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan IPark | Bill
|
Elias
|
Weslley
|
||
Daejeon Citizen
|
Niltinho
|
Rafinha
|
Wanderson Carvalho
|
 Álvaro Silva
|
Adriano Ricardinho
|
| Gwangju FC | Cassiano
|
Daniel Oliveira
|
Fábio Neves
|
Gilberto Fortunato
| |
Incheon United
|
 Kevin Oris
|
 Matej Jonjić
|
 Tomoki Wada
|
||
Jeju United
|
Ciro
|
Fernando Karanga
|
Ricardo Lopes
|
Aleksandar Jovanović
|
|
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Leonardo
|
Luiz Henrique
|
 Urko Vera
|
 Alex Wilkinson
|
Edu Eninho
|
| Jeonnam Dragons | Leandrinho
|
Mislav Oršić
|
 Stevica Ristić
|
||
| Pohang Steelers | Tiago Alves
|
 Lazar Veselinović
|
André Moritz
| ||
| Seongnam FC | Lucas Pajeu
|
 Javier Reina
|
Jorginho Ricardo Bueno
| ||
| FC Seoul | Adriano
|
Mauricio Molina
|
Osmar
|
Yojiro Takahagi
|
Éverton Santos
|
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Júnior Santos
|
 Iliyan Mitsanski
|
Kaio
|
Léo Itaperuna
| |
Ulsan Hyundai
|
Éverton Santos
|
Ivan Kovačec
|
 Server Djeparov
|
Chikashi Masuda
|
Tartá Filip Kasalica
|
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C)
|
38 | 22 | 7 | 9 | 57 | 39 | +18 | 73 | Qualification for Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 60 | 43 | +17 | 67 | |
| 3 | Pohang Steelers | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 49 | 32 | +17 | 66 | Qualification for Champions League play-off round |
| 4 | FC Seoul | 38 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 52 | 44 | +8 | 62 | Qualification for Champions League group stage[a] |
| 5 | Seongnam FC | 38 | 15 | 15 | 8 | 41 | 33 | +8 | 60 | |
| 6 | Jeju United | 38 | 14 | 8 | 16 | 55 | 56 | −1 | 50 | |
| 7 | Ulsan Hyundai
|
38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 54 | 45 | +9 | 53 | |
| 8 | Incheon United | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 35 | 32 | +3 | 51 | |
| 9 | Jeonnam Dragons | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 46 | 51 | −5 | 49 | |
| 10 | Gwangju FC | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 35 | 44 | −9 | 42 | |
| 11 | Busan IPark (R) | 38 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 30 | 55 | −25 | 26 | Qualification for relegation play-offs |
| 12 | Daejeon Citizen (R)
|
38 | 4 | 7 | 27 | 32 | 72 | −40 | 19 | Relegation to K League Challenge |
Leaders
Qualification for Champions League
Qualification for relegation play-offs
Relegation to K League Challenge
| Team ╲ Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daejeon Citizen | 9 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Team ╲ Round | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Daejeon Citizen | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away.
| Home \ Away | BIP | DJC
|
GWJ | ICU | JJU | JHM
|
JND | PHS | SEN | SEO | SSB | USH
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan IPark | — | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
Daejeon Citizen
|
0–0 | — | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Gwangju FC | 0–1 | 1–2 | — | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Incheon United | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | — | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Jeju United | 0–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | — | 0–3 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 2–4 | 3–4 | 2–1 |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
|
2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | — | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Jeonnam Dragons | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 |
| Pohang Steelers | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–4 | 0–0 | 4–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–4 |
| Seongnam FC | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | 1–3
|
1–0 |
| FC Seoul | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | — | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1
|
5–1 | — | 3–1 |
Ulsan Hyundai
|
1–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — |
| Home \ Away | BIP | DJC
|
GWJ | ICU | JJU | JHM
|
JND | PHS | SEN | SEO | SSB | USH
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Busan IPark | — | 2–1 | — | — | 0–2 | — | 1–1 | — | — | 2–4 | 2–2 | 2–2 |
Daejeon Citizen
|
— | — | 0–0 | — | 2–4 | — | — | 0–1 | 0–2 | — | — | 0–0 |
| Gwangju FC | 0–0 | — | — | — | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | — | — | — | 2–4 | — |
| Incheon United | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | — | 1–0 | — | — | 0–2 | — | — | — | 1–2 |
| Jeju United | — | — | — | — | — | 3–2 | — | 0–1 | — | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 |
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
|
2–0 | 3–1 | — | 0–1 | — | — | 2–1 | — | — | 3–0 | 2–1 | — |
| Jeonnam Dragons | — | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 3–1 | — | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | — |
| Pohang Steelers | 2–0 | — | 0–0 | — | — | 3–0 | — | — | 2–1 | — | 0–0 | — |
| Seongnam FC | 1–0 | — | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| FC Seoul | — | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | — | — | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | — | — | — |
| Suwon Samsung Bluewings | — | 2–1 | — | 1–0 | — | — | — | — | 0–1
|
0–3 | — | 3–1 |
Ulsan Hyundai
|
— | — | 0–1 | — | — | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | — | — |
After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once (either at home or away). The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.
Group A
Source: K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. |
Group B
Source: K League Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
|
The promotion-relegation play-offs were held between the winners of the 2015 K League Challenge play-offs and the 11th-placed club of the 2015 K League Classic. The winners on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2016 K League Classic.
| Busan IPark | 0–2 | Suwon FC |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Suwon FC won 3–0 on aggregate and were promoted to the K League Classic, while Busan IPark were relegated to the K League Challenge.
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kim Shin-wook
|
Ulsan Hyundai
|
18 |
| 2 | Adriano
|
Daejeon Citizen
FC Seoul |
15 |
| Hwang Ui-jo
|
Seongnam FC | ||
| 4 | Lee Dong-gook
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 13 |
| 5 | Júnior Santos
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 12 |
| Lee Jong-ho
|
Jeonnam Dragons | ||
| Stevica Ristić
|
Jeonnam Dragons | ||
| 8 | Edu
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 11 |
Ricardo Lopes
|
Jeju United
| ||
| 10 | Kwon Chang-hoon
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 10 |
Leonardo
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Source:[1]
| Rank | Player | Club | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yeom Ki-hun
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 17 |
| 2 | Ricardo Lopes
|
Jeju United
|
11 |
| Mauricio Molina
|
FC Seoul | ||
| 4 | Kim Do-heon
|
Seongnam FC | 8 |
| 5 | Mislav Oršić
|
Jeonnam Dragons | 7 |
| Kim Tae-hwan
|
Ulsan Hyundai
| ||
| Yoon Bit-garam
|
Jeju United
| ||
| 8 | Ivan Kovačec
|
Ulsan Hyundai
|
6 |
| Song Jin-hyung
|
Jeju United
| ||
| Ju Se-jong
|
Busan IPark |
Source:[1]
The 2015 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2015.
| Award | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
Most Valuable Player
|
Lee Dong-gook
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Top goalscorer | Kim Shin-wook
|
Ulsan Hyundai
|
Top assist provider
|
Yeom Ki-hun
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Young Player of the Year
|
Lee Jae-sung
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
FANtastic Player
|
Lee Dong-gook
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Manager of the Year | Choi Kang-hee
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Special Award | Osmar
|
FC Seoul |
| Shin Hwa-yong
|
Pohang Steelers | |
| Fair Play Award | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | |
Source:[2]
| Position | Winner | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Kwon Sun-tae
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
| Defenders | Hong Chul
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
| Matej Jonjić
|
Incheon United
| |
| Kim Kee-hee
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | |
| Cha Du-ri
|
FC Seoul | |
| Midfielders | Yeom Ki-hun
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings |
Lee Jae-sung
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | |
| Kwon Chang-hoon
|
Suwon Samsung Bluewings | |
| Song Jin-hyung
|
Jeju United
| |
| Forwards | Lee Dong-gook
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors |
Adriano
|
FC Seoul |
Source:[2]
Source:[citation needed]
| Month | Manager | Club | Division |
|---|---|---|---|
| March | Nam Ki-il
|
Gwangju FC | K League Classic
|
| April | Choi Kang-hee
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League Classic
|
| May | Kim Hak-bum
|
Seongnam FC | K League Classic
|
| June | Park Hang-seo
|
Sangju Sangmu
|
K League Challenge
|
| July | Choi Kang-hee
|
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League Classic
|
| August | Kim Hak-bum
|
Seongnam FC | K League Classic
|
| September | Hwang Sun-hong
|
Pohang Steelers | K League Classic
|
| October | Lee Young-jin
|
Daegu FC | K League Challenge
|
| November | Cho Duck-je
|
Suwon FC | K League Challenge
|
Source:[citation needed]
Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
|
330,856 | 31,192 | 4,928 | 17,413 | +32.3%† |
| 2 | FC Seoul | 326,269 | 39,328 | 4,267 | 17,172 | +0.9%† |
| 3 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 250,702 | 29,046 | 6,538 | 13,195 | −32.7%† |
| 4 | Pohang Steelers | 175,520 | 19,227 | 3,354 | 9,238 | −5.7%† |
| 5 | Jeju United | 117,754 | 20,013 | 1,011 | 6,542 | −2.5%† |
| 6 | Ulsan Hyundai
|
119,309 | 18,031 | 1,524 | 6,279 | −10.7%† |
| 7 | Seongnam FC | 107,619 | 12,187 | 1,593 | 5,664 | +50.8%† |
| 8 | Incheon United | 97,250 | 10,704 | 1,623 | 4,863 | +6.4%† |
| 9 | Jeonnam Dragons | 82,407 | 12,608 | 628 | 4,337 | +28.9%† |
| 10 | Busan IPark | 63,440 | 9,123 | 1,187 | 3,339 | +2.6%† |
| 11 | Daejeon Citizen
|
47,370 | 11,857 | 763 | 2,493 | −22.0%† |
| 12 | Gwangju FC | 41,567 | 3,117 | 1,062 | 2,188 | +62.8%† |
| League total | 1,760,063 | 39,328 | 628 | 7,720 | −2.7%† |
Updated to games played on 29 November 2015
Source: K League
Notes:
† Teams that played previous season in K League Challenge.
| Rank | Date | Home | Score | Away | Venue | Attendance | Round | Day of week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27 June 2015 | FC Seoul | 0–0 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 39,328 | 18 | Saturday |
| 2 | 14 March 2015 | FC Seoul | 1–2 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 32,516 | 2 | Saturday |
| 3 | 26 July 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–1 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 31,192 | 23 | Sunday |
| 4 | 2 May 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–0 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 30,410 | 9 | Saturday |
| 5 | 19 September 2015 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 0–3 | FC Seoul | Suwon World Cup Stadium | 29,046 | 31 | Saturday |
| 6 | 21 November 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 1–1 | Seongnam FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 28,460 | 37 | Saturday |
| 7 | 12 September 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 3–0 | FC Seoul | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 26,433 | 30 | Saturday |
| 8 | 18 April 2015 | Suwon Samsung Bluewings | 5–1 | FC Seoul | Suwon World Cup Stadium | 26,250 | 7 | Saturday |
| 9 | 25 October 2015 | FC Seoul | 0–0 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | Seoul World Cup Stadium | 24,262 | 35 | Sunday |
| 10 | 7 March 2015 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2–0 | Seongnam FC | Jeonju World Cup Stadium | 23,810 | 1 | Saturday |
| National teams | |
|---|---|
| Leagues |
|
| Domestic cups | |
| International cups | |
| Club seasons | |
| Domestic leagues |
|
|---|---|
| Domestic cups |
|
| Super Cups |
|
| Regional club competitions |
|
| AFC club competitions | |
| National team competitions | |
