KEB Hana Bank
K League Classic
Season2017
Dates4 March – 19 November 2017
ChampionsJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
(5th title)
RelegatedGwangju FC
Champions LeagueJeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Ulsan Hyundai
Jeju United
Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Matches played228
Goals scored626 (2.75 per match)
Best PlayerLee Jae-sung
Top goalscorerJohnathan
(22 goals)
Biggest home winJeonnam 5–0 Ulsan
(22 April 2017)
Jeonnam 5–0 Gwangju
(7 May 2017)
Pohang 5–0 Incheon
(14 October 2017)
Biggest away winJeonbuk 0–4 Jeju
(3 May 2017)
Incheon 1–5 Seoul
(19 July 2017)
Pohang 0–4 Jeonbuk
(17 September 2017)
Gwangju 0–4 Pohang
(18 November 2017)
Highest attendance34,376
Seoul 1–1 Suwon
(4 March 2017)
Lowest attendance736
Sangju 0–0 Jeonnam
(28 October 2017)
Average attendance6,505
← 2016
2018 →

The 2017 K League Classic was the 35th season of the top division of South Korean professional football since its establishment in 1983, and the fifth season of the K League Classic.

Teams

General information

Club City/Province Manager Owner(s) Other sponsor(s)
Daegu FC Daegu South Korea Son Hyun-jun Daegu Government
Gangwon FC Gangwon South Korea Choi Yun-kyum Gangwon Provincial Government
Gwangju FC Gwangju South Korea Nam Ki-il Gwangju Government
Incheon United Incheon South Korea Lee Ki-hyung Incheon Government Shinhan Bank
Incheon International Airport
Jeju United Jeju South Korea Jo Sung-hwan SK Energy
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Jeonbuk South Korea Choi Kang-hee Hyundai Motor Company
Jeonnam Dragons Jeonnam South Korea Roh Sang-rae POSCO
Pohang Steelers Pohang, Gyeongbuk South Korea Choi Soon-ho POSCO
Sangju Sangmu Sangju, Gyeongbuk South Korea Kim Tae-wan Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps
FC Seoul Seoul South Korea Hwang Sun-hong GS Group
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Suwon, Gyeonggi South Korea Seo Jung-won Cheil Worldwide Samsung Electronics
Maeil Dairies Industry
Ulsan Hyundai Ulsan South Korea Kim Do-hoon Hyundai Heavy Industries

Locations

Locations of the 2017 K League Classic clubs

Stadiums

Daegu FC Gangwon FC Gwangju FC Incheon United Jeju United Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Daegu Stadium Alpensia Ski Jumping Stadium Gwangju World Cup Stadium Incheon Football Stadium Jeju World Cup Stadium Jeonju World Cup Stadium
Capacity: 66,422 Capacity: 13,500 Capacity: 40,245 Capacity: 20,891 Capacity: 35,657 Capacity: 42,477
Jeonnam Dragons Pohang Steelers Sangju Sangmu FC Seoul Suwon Samsung
Bluewings 		Ulsan Hyundai
Gwangyang Football Stadium Pohang Steel Yard Sangju Civic Stadium Seoul World Cup Stadium Suwon World Cup Stadium Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium
Capacity: 13,496 Capacity: 17,443 Capacity: 15,042 Capacity: 66,704 Capacity: 44,031 Capacity: 44,102

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 confederation. Players name in bold indicates the player is registered during the mid-season transfer window.

As of 13 July 2017
Club Player 1 Player 2 Player 3 Asian player Former players
Daegu FC Brazil Cesinha Brazil Evandro Paulista Brazil Júnior Negrão Brazil Léo Mineiro
Brazil East TimorRodrigo[a]
Gangwon FC Brazil Diego Maurício Brazil Gerson Burundi Jonathan Nanizayamo Vietnam Lương Xuân Trường Brazil Serginho
Cyprus Valentinos Sielis
Gwangju FC Brazil Wanderson Macedo Niger Olivier Bonnes Northern Ireland Niall McGinn Japan Tomoki Wada
Portugal Ricardo Barros
Incheon United Argentina Enzo Maidana Brazil Weslley Croatia Gordan Bunoza Australia Connor Chapman Serbia Dalibor Veselinović
Jeju United Brazil Magno Cruz Brazil Mailson Guinea-Bissau Frédéric Mendy Australia Aleksandar Jovanović Brazil Marcelo Toscano
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Brazil Edu Brazil Ricardo Lopes State of Palestine Éder[b] Brazil Mazola
Jeonnam Dragons Brazil Jair Croatia Vedran Jugović Hungary Róbert Feczesin Australia Tomislav Mrčela
Pohang Steelers Brazil Lulinha Brazil Muralha Brazil Wanderson Carvalho Iraq Ali Abbas
Sweden Marcus Nilsson
FC Seoul Croatia Ivan Kovačec Montenegro Dejan Damjanović Spain Osmar Iran Khaled Shafiei Brazil Maurinho
Suwon Samsung Bluewings Brazil Johnathan Brazil Júnior Santos Croatia Damir Šovšić Australia Matt Jurman
Ulsan Hyundai Austria Richard Windbichler Croatia Mislav Oršić Switzerland Danijel Subotić Japan Takuma Abe Australia Dimitri Petratos
Croatia Ivan Kovačec
  1. ^ Could be deemed as an Asian player by owning Timorese passport.
  2. ^ Could be deemed as an Asian player by owning Palestinian passport.

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (C) 38 22 9 7 73 35 +38 75 Qualification for the Champions League group stage
2 Jeju United 38 19 9 10 60 37 +23 66
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 38 17 13 8 63 41 +22 64 Qualification for the Champions League playoff round
4 Ulsan Hyundai 38 17 11 10 42 45 −3 62 Qualification for the Champions League group stage[a]
5 FC Seoul 38 16 13 9 56 42 +14 61
6 Gangwon FC 38 13 10 15 59 65 −6 49
7 Pohang Steelers 38 15 7 16 63 60 +3 52
8 Daegu FC 38 11 14 13 50 52 −2 47
9 Incheon United 38 7 18 13 32 53 −21 39
10 Jeonnam Dragons 38 8 11 19 53 69 −16 35
11 Sangju Sangmu (O) 38 8 11 19 41 66 −25 35 Qualification for the relegation playoffs
12 Gwangju FC (R) 38 6 12 20 33 60 −27 30 Relegation to the K League 2
Source: K League
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goals scored; 3) Goal difference; 4) Wins; 5) Head-to-head points
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Qualified as champions of the FA Cup.

Positions by matchday

  Leaders
  Qualification for the Champions League
  Qualification for the Relegation playoffs
  Relegation to the K League 2

Round 1–33

Team ╲ Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors122221112213111111111111111111111
Jeju United411113221121245334655444442222222
Ulsan Hyundai178667876344422222322233333333333
Suwon Samsung Bluewings61111101010764655676646443322224444444
FC Seoul633554453567767777776665555555555
Gangwon FC16678561110976534453234556666666666
Pohang Steelers855332347432353565567777777777777
Daegu FC11991178109111111111010101010111111111010101099999998
Jeonnam Dragons81212121211989899899998898888888888889
Sangju Sangmu84444653578898888998999991011111110101010
Incheon United1191091112121212121212121212111110101010111112111110101011111111
Gwangju FC48789911108101010111111121212121212121211121212121212121212
Source: K League

Round 34–38

Team ╲ Round3435363738
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors11111
Jeju United22222
Suwon Samsung Bluewings44333
Ulsan Hyundai33444
FC Seoul55555
Gangwon FC66666
Pohang Steelers77777
Daegu FC88888
Incheon United11101099
Jeonnam Dragons911111010
Sangju Sangmu10991111
Gwangju FC1212121212
Source: K League

Results

Matches 1–22

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

Home \ Away DGU GWN GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SJS SEO SSB USH
Daegu FC — 1–2 2–2 2–2 1–2 0–2 2–1 3–0 2–0 2–1 0–3 1–3
Gangwon FC 2–1 — 2–2 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–2 2–2 2–0 0–1 1–2 0–1
Gwangju FC 1–0 1–1 — 0–0 0–1 1–0 1–2 1–2 1–2 3–2 0–3 1–1
Incheon United 0–0 1–1 1–0 — 0–1 0–0 1–3 0–3 1–1 1–5 3–3 1–2
Jeju United 4–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 — 2–1 2–0 3–0 4–1 1–2 1–2 3–0
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–2 4–1 3–1 1–1 0–4 — 2–1 2–0 4–1 1–0 2–0 4–0
Jeonnam Dragons 4–3 2–1 5–0 3–2 2–2 0–3 — 1–3 1–3 2–2 1–3 5–0
Pohang Steelers 2–1 1–2 2–0 2–0 2–1 1–3 1–1 — 1–2 3–2 2–3 1–2
Sangju Sangmu 1–1 1–2 1–0 0–1 0–3 1–3 1–1 0–1 — 2–2 1–3 0–0
FC Seoul 0–0 2–3 2–1 3–0 0–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 1–2 — 1–1 0–0
Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–1 3–3 0–0 3–0 1–0 0–2 4–1 1–0 0–0 1–2 — 1–2
Ulsan Hyundai 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–2 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–1 0–1 1–1 2–1 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Matches 23–33

Teams play every other team once (either at home or away).

Home \ Away DGU GWN GWJ ICU JJU JHM JND PHS SJS SEO SSB USH
Daegu FC — — — 1–1 — — — 2–1 2–2 2–2 0–0 —
Gangwon FC 0–1 — — 2–0 0–2 — 3–3 — — — — 1–1
Gwangju FC 0–1 1–1 — — — — 2–1 — — 1–4 0–1 1–1
Incheon United — — 0–0 — 0–0 1–3 — 2–0 — 1–0 1–1 —
Jeju United 2–0 — 1–1 — — 0–1 3–1 3–2 — — — 2–1
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–1 4–3 3–1 — — — — — 1–2 — — 0–1
Jeonnam Dragons 1–4 — — 0–0 — 1–1 — — 2–0 0–1 — —
Pohang Steelers — 5–2 3–2 — — 0–4 1–1 — 2–2 — 1–1 —
Sangju Sangmu — 1–2 3–2 1–2 2–2 — — — — 0–1 — —
FC Seoul — 3–1 — — 0–0 1–2 — 1–1 — — — 1–1
Suwon Samsung Bluewings — 2–3 — — 2–3 1–1 3–0 — 3–0 0–1 — —
Ulsan Hyundai 3–2 — — 1–1 — — 1–0 1–1 4–2 — 1–1 —
Source: K League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

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 (either at home or away). The exact matches are determined upon the league table at the time of the split.

Relegation playoffs

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 Johnathan Suwon Samsung Bluewings 22
2 South Korea Yang Dong-hyen Pohang Steelers 19
Montenegro Dejan Damjanović FC Seoul
4 South Korea Joo Min-kyu Sangju Sangmu 17
Brazil Lulinha Pohang Steelers
6 Brazil Jair Jeonnam Dragons 16
7 Brazil Edu Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 13
Brazil Magno Cruz Jeju United
Brazil Diego Maurício Gangwon FC
10 Brazil Júnior Negrão Daegu FC 12

Source:[1]

Top assist providers

Rank Player Club Assists
1 South Korea Son Jun-ho Pohang Steelers 14
2 South Korea Yun Il-lok FC Seoul 12
3 South Korea Yeom Ki-hun Suwon Samsung Bluewings 11
4 South Korea Lee Jae-sung Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 10
5 South Korea Lee Keun-ho Gangwon FC 9
6 South Korea Kim Young-wook Jeonnam Dragons 8
South Korea Kim Sun-min Daegu FC
8 Brazil Cesinha Daegu FC 7
South Korea Kwon Soon-hyung Jeju United
South Korea Kim Tae-hwan Sangju Sangmu

Source:[1]

Awards

Main awards

The 2017 K League Awards was held on 20 November 2017.

Award Winner Club
Most Valuable Player South Korea Lee Jae-sung Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Top goalscorer Brazil Johnathan Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Top assist provider South Korea Son Jun-ho Pohang Steelers
Young Player of the Year South Korea Kim Min-jae Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
FANtastic Player Brazil Johnathan Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Manager of the Year South Korea Choi Kang-hee Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Source:[2]

Best XI

Position Winner Club
Goalkeeper South Korea Jo Hyeon-woo Daegu FC
Defenders South Korea Kim Jin-su Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
South Korea Kim Min-jae Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
South Korea Oh Ban-suk Jeju United
South Korea Choi Chul-soon Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Midfielders South Korea Yeom Ki-hun Suwon Samsung Bluewings
South Korea Lee Jae-sung Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
South Korea Lee Chang-min Jeju United
South Korea Lee Seung-gi Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Forwards Brazil Johnathan Suwon Samsung Bluewings
South Korea Lee Keun-ho Gangwon FC

Source:[2]

Player of the Round

Source:[citation needed]

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

Source:[citation needed]

Attendance

Attendance by club

Attendants who entered with free ticket are not counted.

Pos Team Total High Low Average Change
1 FC Seoul 310,011 34,376 6,384 16,316 −9.4%†
2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 222,029 20,935 6,190 11,686 −30.4%†
3 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 166,934 26,581 4,147 8,786 −17.4%†
4 Ulsan Hyundai 160,825 13,225 4,531 8,464 −3.2%†
5 Pohang Steelers 159,060 18,587 2,437 8,372 +9.0%†
6 Incheon United 112,708 13,301 2,930 5,932 −2.0%†
7 Jeonnam Dragons 78,093 10,579 1,565 4,110 −0.1%†
8 Jeju United 77,096 8,526 2,184 4,058 −28.7%†
9 Daegu FC 63,460 13,478 1,047 3,340 +23.2%†
10 Gwangju FC 57,858 11,830 1,020 3,045 −12.4%†
11 Gangwon FC 43,822 7,438 1,216 2,306 +116.3%†
12 Sangju Sangmu 31,254 5,523 736 1,645 −15.3%†
League total 1,483,150 34,376 736 6,505 −17.4%†

Source: K League
Notes:
† Teams that played previous season in K League Challenge.

Top matches

Rank Date Round Home Score Away Venue Attendance
1 5 March 2017 1 FC Seoul 1–1 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Seoul World Cup Stadium 34,376
2 21 October 2017 35 FC Seoul 2–2 Suwon Samsung Bluewings Seoul World Cup Stadium 27,257
3 12 August 2017 26 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0–1 FC Seoul Suwon World Cup Stadium 26,581
4 3 May 2017 9 FC Seoul 1–0 Jeonnam Dragons Seoul World Cup Stadium 26,261
5 23 July 2017 23 FC Seoul 1–2 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Seoul World Cup Stadium 23,913
6 5 March 2017 1 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2–1 Jeonnam Dragons Jeonju Stadium 20,935
7 18 June 2017 14 Suwon Samsung Bluewings 1–2 FC Seoul Suwon World Cup Stadium 20,140
8 2 April 2017 4 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 1–0 FC Seoul Jeonju Stadium 19,141
9 12 March 2017 2 Pohang Steelers 2–0 Gwangju FC Pohang Steel Yard 18,587
10 19 August 2017 27 FC Seoul 1–1 Ulsan Hyundai Seoul World Cup Stadium 18,087

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Data center - Official records - Recording room - K League 1 records - Individual record table" (in Korean). K League Data Portal. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b [2017 K리그 어워즈] 표심 분석…과반수 ‘MVP’ 이재성, 90% 지지 ‘영플’ 김민재. Naver.com (in Korean). SPOTVNEWS. 20 November 2017.

External links

K League seasons
2017 in South Korean football
2017 in Asian football (AFC)
Category