Top 10 Transfers 2006

John Duerden reports on the Korean Transfer Scene

The close season in the K-League is as frantic as anywhere else. There are still a few deals to be clinched, hands shook and contracts signed but with most clubs now firmly into their pre-season training camps in such places as Cyprus, Turkey and China, most of the wheeling and dealing has been done.

The ten transfers, in no particular order, as of the end of January are as follows.

Kim Jung-woo (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I to Nagoya Grampus Eight)

It was something of a surprise to see the international midfielder leave the champions soon after the Tigers lifted the trophy. Kim, a busy central midfielder who doesn't really look like a football player, has established himself firmly in the national team squad though his place in the starting line-up in Germany 2006 is much less certain.

Ahn Yong-hak (Nagoya Grampus Eight to Busan I'Park)

Heading in the other direction is the Japanese-born North Korean midfielder. Well-travelled Busan boss Ian Porterfield has worked with a few nationalities in his time but the Scotsman has never had to tell a North Korean defensive midfielder to 'run it off lad, you'll be OK' or ' what the **** was that you ****** ***** *****?!'

Kim Byung-ji (Pohang Steelers to FC Seoul)

The only Korean, north or south, with a stranger haircut than Kim Jong-il has ended his years of service with the Steelers to try his luck in the capital. Lee Woon-Jae's goalkeeping understudy during the 2002 World Cup may find that dyed blond mullets go down well on the south-east coast but the fashion-conscious capital has rather higher standards.

Kim Yong-dae (Busan I'Park to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma)

Kim was one of the frontrunners to succeed Lee Woon-jae when the Suwon shotstopper hangs up his gloves and even made one or two appearances under previous coach Jo Bonfrere. New boss Dick Advocaat didn't select him for his first squad as the young Kim was on AFC Champions League duty with Busan. The next day the keeper had a nightmare in a 5-0 thrashing in the first leg of the semi-final. He hasn't featured in the national team squad since but a move to an increasingly formidable-looking Seongnam side could help.

Kim Jin-yong (Ulsan Hyundai horang-I to FC Gyeongnam)

The promising striker earned a call-up during the ill-fated East Asian Cup last summer and the departure of Bonfrere seemed to signal the end of the tall attacker's chances. A move to the K-League's big spending new team FC Gyeongnam may not be as much of a step down as people think.

Luciano (Busan I'Park to FC Gyeongnam)

Kim will link up with Brazilian Luciano who was impressive during the first stage of the season last year as Busan finished top. The big striker has made the short journey to Changwon, the home of the league's 14th member and a place that will not be an easy three points for visiting teams next season.

Sandro Hiroshi (Daegu FC to Chunnam Dragons)

The Brazilian-Japanese impressed greatly in his first season in Korea and helped Daegu have their best ever season albeit in only their third campaign. The striker finished as one of the top scorers and his capture is a real coup for Chunnam who were disappointing last season. With Romanian star Adrian Naega also in attack, it could be an exciting season on the south-west coast.

Hyun Young-min (Ulsan Hyundai Horang-I to Zenith Petersburg)

Since winning the title in December, there have been more than a few comings and goings in the south-east as the club prepares to defend its title and also have a tilt at the AFC Champions League. Losing their captain was not what the team had in mind but Hyun couldn't resist the chance to become the first South Korean to appear in Russia's top division and is hoping to help the team from the old capital improve on last season's sixth place.

Leandro (Daejeon Citizen to Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i)

The tall Brazilian with the big red boots enjoyed a reasonable first season in the K-League with Daejeon. As a team, Daejeon score and concede few but Leandro showed enough with his height (190 cm) and his aggression to suggest that he can worry defences up and down the peninsula and with the better service that he can expect to receive at Ulsan, the former Vissel Kobe striker will be hoping to bang a few goals in.

Denis Laktionov (Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma to Suwon Samsung Bluewings)

The former Russian winger has returned to his seven year home after a two-year sojourn with Seongnam, that also included a six-month loan with Busan. Upon joining Seongnam, Laktionov became a Korean citizen and took the Korean name, Lee Seong-nam which unsurprisingly has been dropped at Suwon where, like most foreign players in Korea, he will be known by his first name – Denis.

John Duerden

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