KEB Hana Bank
K League Challenge
Season2017
ChampionsGyeongnam FC
(1st title)
PromotedGyeongnam FC
Matches played180
Goals scored454 (2.52 per match)
Best PlayerMarcão
Top goalscorerMarcão
(22 goals)
Biggest home winBucheon 6–2 Anyang
(19 June 2017)
Biggest away winDaejeon 1–4 Seongnam
(27 August 2017)
Anyang 1–4 Gyeongnam
(2 September 2017)
Highest scoringBucheon 6–2 Anyang
(19 June 2017)
Highest attendance10,683
Anyang 1–4 Gyeongnam
(2 September 2017)
Average attendance2,324
← 2016
2018 →

The 2017 K League Challenge was the fifth season of the K League 2, the second-highest division in the South Korean football league system. Champions and winners of the promotion playoffs could be promoted to the K League 1.

Teams

Team changes

Relegated from K League Classic

Promoted to K League Classic

Newly joined

Withdrawn

Locations

Locations of the 2017 K League Challenge clubs

Stadiums

Ansan Greeners FC Anyang Asan Mugunghwa Bucheon FC 1995 Busan IPark
Ansan Wa~ Stadium Anyang Stadium Yi Sun-sin Stadium Bucheon Stadium Busan Gudeok Stadium
Capacity: 35,000 Capacity: 17,143 Capacity: 19,283 Capacity: 34,545 Capacity: 12,349
Daejeon Citizen Gyeongnam FC Seongnam FC Seoul E-Land Suwon FC
Daejeon World Cup Stadium Changwon Football Center Tancheon Stadium Seoul Olympic Stadium Suwon Sports Complex
Capacity: 40,535 Capacity: 15,500 Capacity: 16,146 Capacity: 69,950 Capacity: 11,808

Personnel and sponsoring

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

Team Managers Kit manufacturer Main sponsor
Ansan Greeners South Korea Lee Heung-sil Kelme Ansan Government
FC Anyang South Korea Kim Jong-pil Astore Anyang Government
Asan Mugunghwa South Korea Song Sun-ho Puma Asan Government
Bucheon FC 1995 South Korea Jeong Gab-seok Astore Bucheon Government
Busan IPark South Korea Cho Jin-ho Adidas Hyundai Development Company
Daejeon Citizen South Korea Lee Young-ik Astore Daejeon Government
Gyeongnam FC South Korea Kim Jong-boo Hummel Gyeongnam Government
Seongnam FC South Korea Park Kyung-hoon Umbro Seongnam Government
Seoul E-Land South Korea Kim Byung-soo New Balance E-Land
Suwon FC South Korea Cho Duck-je Hummel Suwon Government

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.

Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian Player
Ansan Greeners Montenegro Luka Rotković Uruguay Raúl Tarragona Uzbekistan Bahodir Nasimov
FC Anyang Brazil Jô Brazil Lukian Ivory Coast Aubin Kouakou
Bucheon FC 1995 Brazil Nilson Júnior Brazil Waguininho Brazil Rodrigo Paraná Uzbekistan Bakhodir Pardayev
Busan IPark Brazil Danny Morais Brazil Rômulo Brazil Léo Mineiro Japan Michihiro Yasuda
Daejeon Citizen Brazil Bruno Cantanhede Georgia (country) Levan Shengelia Romania Cristian Dănălache
Gyeongnam FC Brazil Alex Bruno Brazil Marcão Croatia Ivan Herceg
Seongnam FC Brazil Dário Júnior Croatia Marin Oršulić Slovakia Filip Hlohovský
Seoul E-Land Brazil Wesley Alex Brazil Daniel Lovinho Japan Tomoki Wada Japan Atsuki Wada
Suwon FC Australia Bruce Djite Brazil Pedro Carmona Montenegro Vladan Adžić Australia Adrian Leijer

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Gyeongnam FC (C, P) 36 24 7 5 69 36 +33 79 Promotion to the K League 1
2 Busan IPark 36 19 11 6 52 30 +22 68 Qualification for the promotion playoffs semi-final
3 Asan Mugunghwa 36 15 9 12 44 37 +7 54 Qualification for the promotion playoffs first round
4 Seongnam FC 36 13 14 9 38 30 +8 53
5 Bucheon FC 1995 36 15 7 14 50 46 +4 52
6 Suwon FC 36 11 12 13 42 48 −6 45
7 FC Anyang 36 10 9 17 40 58 −18 39
8 Seoul E-Land 36 7 14 15 42 55 −13 35
9 Ansan Greeners 36 7 12 17 36 54 −18 33
10 Daejeon Citizen 36 6 11 19 41 60 −19 29
Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points.
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Positions by matchday

  Leaders
  Qualification for the promotion playoffs

Round 1–18

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718
Gyeongnam FC433111111111111111
Busan IPark412422222222222222
Asan Mugunghwa944245434334333343
Bucheon FC 1995167553345443455434
Seongnam FC988101010101091099777655
Suwon FC121334553566666776
FC Anyang61010877666655444567
Ansan Greeners155666777877899888
Seoul E-Land6999999910788988999
Daejeon Citizen67678888891010101010101010
Source: K League

Round 19–36

Team ╲ Round192021222324252627282930313233343536
Gyeongnam FC111111111111111111
Busan IPark222222222222222222
Asan Mugunghwa344553335555553333
Seongnam FC666445454444334444
Bucheon FC 1995433334543333445555
Suwon FC555666677666677766
FC Anyang777777766777766677
Seoul E-Land9999109888888888888
Ansan Greeners888888999999999999
Daejeon Citizen10101010910101010101010101010101010
Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–18

Home \ Away ANS ANY ASM BUC BIP DJC GNM SEN SEL SUW
Ansan Greeners — 1–0 2–1 2–4 0–3 2–1 3–3 0–1 1–2 3–3
FC Anyang 2–1 — 0–2 3–1 0–1 3–2 1–2 2–0 2–0 1–2
Asan Mugunghwa 1–0 4–0 — 2–1 0–2 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 1–0
Bucheon FC 1995 2–0 6–2 1–2 — 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–2 2–1 0–1
Busan IPark 3–1 1–1 1–1 1–0 — 2–1 1–1 1–2 3–0 2–2
Daejeon Citizen 1–2 0–2 1–1 0–1 2–3 — 0–2 1–1 2–1 4–3
Gyeongnam FC 3–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 1–0 2–1 — 1–1 3–0 2–0
Seongnam FC 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–2 0–1 1–0 1–2 — 0–2 0–1
Seoul E-Land 1–0 2–2 1–1 4–1 2–3 3–3 0–1 0–0 — 0–0
Suwon FC 0–4 3–3 0–2 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 19–36

Home \ Away ANS ANY ASM BUC BIP DJC GNM SEN SEL SUW
Ansan Greeners — 2–2 0–1 0–2 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–1 1–1 0–0
FC Anyang 2–0 — 1–3 1–3 1–2 0–0 1–4 1–3 2–0 0–0
Asan Mugunghwa 0–0 2–0 — 1–1 0–1 1–2 2–3 0–2 2–0 2–1
Bucheon FC 1995 1–1 0–0 3–0 — 0–2 1–0 2–4 3–2 1–0 0–1
Busan IPark 3–0 0–0 1–1 1–0 — 4–2 1–2 0–0 2–1 2–2
Daejeon Citizen 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 — 2–1 1–4 0–1 2–0
Gyeongnam FC 3–1 0–1 3–1 2–1 2–0 4–2 — 1–0 2–1 2–2
Seongnam FC 1–0 1–0 1–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–3 — 2–2 3–0
Seoul E-Land 3–3 2–3 3–2 2–2 2–2 0–0 1–0 1–1 — 0–0
Suwon FC 0–2 4–0 0–1 1–2 0–1 3–2 2–1 0–0 3–1 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Promotion playoffs

Bracket

First round Semi-final Final
           
2 Busan IPark 3
3 Asan Mugunghwa 0
3 Asan Mugunghwa 1
4 Seongnam FC 0
Busan IPark 0 1 1 (4)
Sangju Sangmu (p) 1 0 1 (5)

First round

Asan Mugunghwa1–0Seongnam FC
Jung Sung-min 65' Report
Yi Sun-sin Stadium, Asan
Attendance: 3,840
Referee: Kim Jong-hyeok

Semi-final

Busan IPark3–0Asan Mugunghwa
 Report
Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan
Attendance: 2,710
Referee: Kim Dong-jin

Final

The promotion-relegation playoffs were held between the winners of the 2017 K League Challenge playoffs and the 11th-placed club of the 2017 K League Classic. The winner on aggregate score after both matches earned entry into the 2018 K League 1.

Busan IPark0–1Sangju Sangmu
Report Yeo Reum 7'
Busan Gudeok Stadium, Busan
Attendance: 1,322
Referee: Lee Dong-jun
Sangju Sangmu0–1 (a.e.t.)Busan IPark
Report Rômulo 16' (pen.)
Penalties
 5–4
Sangju Civic Stadium, Sangju
Attendance: 2,714
Referee: Kim Seong-ho

1–1 on aggregate. Sangju Sangmu won 5–4 on penalties and therefore both clubs remain in their respective leagues.

Player statistics

Top scorers

Rank Player Club Goals
1 Brazil Marcão Gyeongnam FC 22
2 Uruguay Raúl Tarragona Ansan Greeners 15
3 Brazil Waguininho Bucheon FC 1995 12
4 South Korea Jung Won-jin Gyeongnam FC 10
5 South Korea Ko Kyung-min Busan IPark 9
South Korea Lee Jeong-hyeop Busan IPark
Romania Cristian Dănălache Daejeon Citizen
South Korea Park Sung-ho Seongnam FC
South Korea Jin Chang-soo Bucheon FC 1995
10 South Korea Baek Sung-dong Suwon FC 8
South Korea Jeong Jae-hee FC Anyang

Top assist providers

Rank Player Club Assists
1 South Korea Chang Hyuk-jin Ansan Greeners 13
2 South Korea Jung Won-jin Gyeongnam FC 10
3 Brazil Alex Bruno Gyeongnam FC 8
South Korea Kim Shin Bucheon FC 1995
5 Japan Atsuki Wada Seoul E-Land FC 7
6 Brazil Rômulo Busan IPark 6
South Korea Lee Ho-seok Daejeon Citizen
South Korea Kim Shin Bucheon FC 1995
9 South Korea Kim Bong-rae Suwon FC 5
South Korea Lee Ju-yong Asan Mugunghwa
South Korea Jeong Jae-hee FC Anyang

Attendance

Attendants who entered with free ticket were not counted.

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 FC Anyang 60,078 10,683 1,360 3,338 +82.7%†
2 Seongnam FC 50,427 6,700 1,410 2,802 −58.4%†
3 Ansan Greeners  48,635 8,405 915 2,702 n/a†
4 Busan IPark 43,302 6,337 1,024 2,406 +56.8%†
5 Gyeongnam FC 39,273 7,278 713 2,182 +81.8%†
6 Daejeon Citizen 38,787 5,136 1,032 2,155 −15.2%†
7 Suwon FC 38,655 8,455 711 2,148 −51.0%†
8 Asan Mugunghwa  35,188 7,933 726 1,955 +94.5%†
9 Bucheon FC 1995 35,047 7,209 0 1,947 −6.4%†
10 Seoul E-Land 28,996 4,531 631 1,611 +22.9%†
League total 418,388 10,683 0 2,324 +54.3%†

Updated to games played on 29 October 2017
Source: K League Classic
Notes:
† Team played previous season in K League Classic.

Awards

The 2016 K League Awards was held on 20 November 2017.[1]

Main awards

Best XI

Position Player Club
Goalkeeper South Korea Lee Bum-soo Gyeongnam FC
Defenders South Korea Choi Jae-soo Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Park Ji-soo Gyeongnam FC
Croatia Ivan Herceg Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Woo Joo-sung Gyeongnam FC
Midfielders South Korea Jung Won-jin Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Hwang In-beom Daejeon Citizen
South Korea Moon Ki-han Bucheon FC 1995
South Korea Bae Ki-jong Gyeongnam FC
Forwards Brazil Marcão Gyeongnam FC
South Korea Lee Jeong-hyeop Busan IPark

Player of the Round

Manager of the Month

Month Manager Club Division
March South Korea Jo Sung-hwan Jeju United K League Classic
April South Korea Kim Jong-boo Gyeongnam FC K League Challenge
May South Korea Choi Yun-kyum Gangwon FC K League Classic
June South Korea Choi Kang-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors K League Classic
July South Korea Seo Jung-won Suwon Samsung Bluewings K League Classic
August South Korea Hwang Sun-hong FC Seoul K League Classic
September South Korea Kim Do-hoon Ulsan Hyundai K League Classic
October Brazil André Daegu FC K League Classic

See also

References

  1. ^ [K리그 어워즈] 챌린지는 경남 천하! MVP 말컹-감독상 김종부 (챌린지 종합). Naver.com (in Korean). InterFootball. 20 November 2017.

External links

K League seasons
2017 in South Korean football
Categories