2014 K League Classic


The 2014 K League Classic was the 32nd season of the top division of professional football in South Korea since its establishment in 1983 as K-League and the second season in its current name, the K League Classic.
Pohang Steelers were the defending champions, having won their fifth title after five years.

Promotion and relegation

Teams relegated to 2014 K League Challenge
Teams promoted from the 2013 K League Challenge
The following 12 clubs will compete in the K League Classic during the 2014 season.
ClubCity / AreaManagerJoinedOwner / Sponsor
Busan IPark Busan Yoon Sung-hyo
1983 –
Owner : Hyundai Development Company
Gyeongnam FC Gyeongnam Branko Babić
2006 –
Owners : Government of Gyeongsangnam-do, Citizen Stockholder
Sponsors : DSME, Gyeongnam Bank
Incheon United Incheon Kim Bong-gil
2004 –
Owners : Government of Incheon, Citizen Stockholder
Sponsors : Shinhan Bank, Incheon International Airport
Jeju United Jeju Park Kyung-hoon
1983 –
Owner : SK Energy in SK Group
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk Choi Kang-hee
1995 –
Owner : Hyundai Motor Company in Hyundai Motor Group
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam Ha Seok-ju
1995 –
Owner : POSCO
Pohang Steelers Pohang, Gyeongbuk Hwang Sun-hong
1983 –
Owner : POSCO
Sangju Sangmu Sangju, Gyeongbuk Park Hang-seo
2011 –
Owner : Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Seongnam FC Seongnam, Gyeonggi Lee Sang-yoon
1989 –
Owner : Government of Seongnam, Citizen Stockholder
FC Seoul Seoul Choi Yong-soo
1984 –
Owner : GS Group
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon, Gyeonggi Seo Jung-won
1996 –
Owner : Cheil Worldwide in Samsung Group
Sponsors : Samsung Electronics
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan Cho Min-kook
1984 –
Owner : Hyundai Heavy Industries in Hyundai Heavy Industries Group

Stadiums

Busan IParkGyeongnam FCIncheon UnitedJeju UnitedJeonbuk Hyundai MotorsJeonnam Dragons
Busan Asiad StadiumChangwon Football CenterIncheon Football StadiumJeju World Cup StadiumJeonju World Cup StadiumGwangyang Football Stadium
Capacity: 53,864Capacity: 15,116Capacity: 20,891Capacity: 35,657Capacity: 42,477Capacity: 20,009
Pohang SteelersSangju SangmuSeongnam FCFC SeoulSuwon Samsung
Bluewings		Ulsan Hyundai
Pohang Steel YardSangju Civic StadiumTancheon StadiumSeoul World Cup StadiumSuwon World Cup StadiumUlsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 25,000Capacity: 15,042Capacity: 16,250Capacity: 66,704Capacity: 43,959Capacity: 44,474

Managerial changes

Foreign players

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.
ClubPlayer 1Player 2Player 3Asian Player
Busan IPark Fagner Nilson Jacio
Gyeongnam FC Edin Junuzović Sreten Sretenović Miloš Stojanović Luke DeVere
Incheon United Ivo Diogo
Jeju United Hugo Droguett Aleksandar Jovanović
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Leonardo Kaio Vinícius Reche Alex Wilkinson
Jeonnam Dragons Leandrinho Sandi Križman Stevica Ristić Robert Cornthwaite
Pohang Steelers
Seongnam FC Valdivia Server Djeparov
FC Seoul Everton Santos Mauricio Molina Osmar Barba Sergio Escudero
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Santos Roger Reiner
Ulsan Hyundai Wander Luiz Tartá Filip Kasalica

ClubPlayer
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Jong Tae-se

League table

Positions by matchday





Round 1–22

Round 23–38

Split rounds are from round 34 to round 38

Results

Matches 1–22

Teams play each other twice, once at home, once away.

Matches 23–33

Teams play every other team once.

Matches 34–38

After 33 matches, the league splits into two sections of six teams each, with teams playing every other team in their section once. The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.

Top six

Bottom six

Promotion-relegation playoffs

The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2014 K League Challenge Playoff and the 11th-placed club of the 2014 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2015 K League Classic.

First leg

Second leg

''Gwangju FC secure promotion to the 2015 K League Classic season, 4:2 on aggregate.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top assists

Attendance

Top 10 Season Attendances

AttendanceRoundDateHomeScoreAwayVenueWeekdayTime of Day
46,5491512 July 2014FC Seoul2–0Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup StadiumSaturdayEvening
41,297305 October 2014FC Seoul0–1Suwon Samsung BluewingsSeoul World Cup StadiumSundayAfternoon
34,029359 November 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–1FC SeoulSuwon World Cup StadiumSundayAfternoon
30,5972223 August 2014Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors1–2FC SeoulJeonju World Cup StadiumSaturdayEvening
29,3181027 April 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings0–1FC SeoulSuwon World Cup StadiumSundayAfternoon
27,5582224 August 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–1Seongnam FCSuwon World Cup StadiumSundayEvening
24,0272116 August 2014FC Seoul5–1Incheon UnitedSeoul World Cup StadiumSaturdayEvening
23,8351619 July 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings3–2Incheon UnitedSuwon World Cup StadiumSaturdayEvening
23,767530 March 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–0Busan IParkSuwon World Cup StadiumSundayAfternoon
23,466113 May 2014Suwon Samsung Bluewings1–0Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsSuwon World Cup StadiumSaturdayAfternoon

Awards

The 2014 K League Awards was held on 1 December 2014.

K League Most Valuable Player


K League Best XI

PositionPlayerClub
Goalkeeper Kwon Sun-taeJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Hong ChulSuwon Samsung Bluewings
Defender Alex WilkinsonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Defender Kim Ju-youngFC Seoul
Defender Cha Du-riFC Seoul
Midfielder Lim Sang-hyubBusan IPark
Midfielder Koh Myong-jinFC Seoul
Midfielder Lee Seung-giJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielder Han Kyo-wonJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward Lee Dong-gookJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forward SantosSuwon Samsung Bluewings

K League Manager of the Year