Ulsan, South Korea – K League 1 champions Ulsan HD FC have announced the mutual termination of the contract with head coach Kim Pan-gon, just over a year after he took the helm. The decision comes in the wake of a prolonged period of poor results that has seen the three-time defending champions slide down the league table.
The club stated that the separation was a mutual agreement, with Kim Pan-gon acknowledging his responsibility for the team's recent struggles. His final match will be a home game against Suwon FC at Munsu Football Stadium on Saturday, August 2nd.
Kim’s tenure began with remarkable success. Appointed on July 28, 2024, to replace the departing Hong Myung-bo, Kim inherited a team in fourth place. He quickly revitalized the squad, winning eight of his first eleven matches and leading Ulsan to an unprecedented third consecutive K League 1 title. This victory was particularly significant as it made him the first person to win the league with Ulsan as both a player and a head coach, having been part of the 1996 championship-winning squad.
However, the 2025 season has been a stark contrast. Despite an early three-match winning streak, the team’s form has since collapsed. They are currently on a 10-match winless streak across all competitions, including three draws and three losses in the K League 1, three losses at the FIFA Club World Cup, and a loss in the Korea Cup. This poor run has dropped the club to a season-low seventh place in the K League 1 standings.
The pressure on Kim had been mounting for weeks, with some fans even chanting for his dismissal during a recent friendly match. In a move that highlights the severity of the club's situation, CEO Kim Kwang-kook has also resigned, taking joint responsibility for the team's downturn in performance.
The club is now focused on finding a successor to rejuvenate the team's atmosphere and turn their season around. Reports suggest that former South Korean national team head coach Shin Tae-yong is a leading candidate to take over the managerial role.
