Incheon Departure Director Cho Sung-hwan: «Change is Needed… I Hope This Will Be a ’Turning Point’»

Incheon United manager Cho Sung-hwan, who announced his intention to step down from his post as manager of professional soccer K League 1 team, said that the team needed a change and hoped that Incheon, which was in a slump, would bounce back with his resignation.

Manager Cho met with reporters ahead of the 21st round K League 1 home game against Gimcheon Sangmu at Incheon Football Stadium on the 5th and said, «I thought the team needed a change. 안전놀이터

He reaffirmed his intention to resign, saying, «It’s not too late, so I hope this can be a turning point.»

Coach Cho, who has led Incheon since August 2020, announced his intention to step down to the club this morning.

Incheon is in 9th place with 4 wins, 8 draws, and 8 losses (20 points) through 20 rounds, and has recently gone on a 7-game winless streak (3 draws, 4 losses), including 3 consecutive league losses.

In 2020, when Coach Cho took the reins mid-season, Incheon dramatically avoided relegation to the second division, and in 2022, they finished fourth in the K League 1 and advanced to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League (ACL) for the first time ever.

Last year, they also advanced to the Final A by finishing fifth in the K League 1, but this season, they were unable to avoid resigning as coach after hovering in the lower ranks.

Coach Cho, who is said to have informed the players of his resignation before coming to the stadium, emphasized «I told them ’There is no time to be swayed by emotions and sentimentality’ and, ’Let’s focus on the game in front of us.»

He added, «It’s a ’blessing in disguise’ in life, and I hope this can be a turning point for a reversal.»

Coach Cho, who usually wears training clothes and a hat during games, came out in a gray suit and neatly styled his hair.

Coach Cho explained, «I wanted to be neat and formal because it was the last time I was saying goodbye.»

He confessed, «I couldn’t sleep because of mixed emotions,» and added, «I was grateful to the members.

He also expressed his gratitude, saying, «I just put in a spoon.»

The match against Gimcheon on this day is the last match of the ’5-match closure of the home cheering section’ penalty that Incheon received due to the ’water bottle throwing’ incident by home fans in the 12th round against FC Seoul in May.

Coach Cho will play his last match looking at the still empty home cheering section.

Coach Cho said, «I wanted to greet you with an apology in front of more fans, but it’s regrettable,» and added, «Shouldn’t I greet you in another way in the future?»

Coach Cho, who urged the players to «put aside all selfish thoughts and go all-in,» said, «I will pour water in every match and cheer and pray that Incheon does well.»