FC Anyang () is a South Korean professional football club based in Anyang that competes in the K League 1, the top tier of the South Korean football league system.
The club play their home games at Anyang Sports Complex.
History Football in Anyang
Following the implementation of the K League decentralization policy in 1995, the three Seoul-based teams had to relocate to other regions. In 1996, LG Cheetahs relocated to Anyang City to become Anyang LG Cheetahs.
After the 2002 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea, Seoul's World Cup Stadium stood empty, except for occasional international matches. The Seoul Metropolitan Government sought to offset construction and maintenance cost by creating a new team in Seoul.
Unable to find a company to establish a new team, the city of Seoul proposed bringing an existing team to the capital. In 2004, it was announced that the Anyang LG Cheetahs would be the new occupants of the World Cup Stadium, and now become known as FC Seoul.
LG Cheetahs did not leave Anyang and the fans on good terms. These events helped to shape the FC Anyang supporters' identity and explains the basis for their dislike of FC Seoul.
Foundation of FC Anyang
With the creation of the K League 2, the city of Anyang saw the opportunity to bring football back. Despite opposition from within the city council, an ordinance was passed on 10 October 2012 to establish a professional football team in Anyang City. The public was invited to vote and on 27 December 2012, the chosen name was confirmed as FC Anyang. The club was officially founded on 2 February 2013.
FC Anyang played their first game on 17 March 2013 against Goyang Hi at Anyang Stadium. The match ended 1–1, with Ka Sol-hyun scoring the club's first ever goal. The club recorded its first win on 7 April against Chungju Hummel.
In 2024, the club won their first piece of silverware by winning the 2024 K League 2, earning direct promotion to the top flight K League 1 for the first time in the club's history.
Supporters and rivalries
The club's main supporters group is called A.S.U. RED, which started as a fan group for Anyang LG Cheetahs (now FC Seoul) when the club was based in Anyang.
The club shares a strong rivalry with nearby Suwon Samsung Bluewings, a rivalry that began during the LG Cheetahs era and was dubbed the Jijidae Derby. Despite the LG Cheetahs changing their name and location, the city of Anyang still share a football rivalry with Suwon, which was revived in the 2024 season when Suwon Samsung Bluewings competed in the second division for the first time.
FC Seoul is another club disliked by FC Anyang fans, due to the abrupt manner of the club leaving the city despite protests. Anyang fans lit flares in a show of defiance in a tie in the 2017 Korean FA Cup.
Players Current squad
Out on loan and military service
Backroom staff Coaching staff
Manager: Ryu Byeong-hoon Head coach: Kim Yeon-geon Goalkeeping coach: Choi Ik-hyung Physical coach: Jang Seok-min Playing coach: Joo Hyun-jae
Support staff
Medical team leader: Seo Jun-seok Interpreter & team manager: Noh Sang-rae Athletic trainers: Hwang Hee-seok, Shin Young-jae Analyst: Kim Seong-ju Equipment manager: Joo Jong-hwan Administrative director: Jo Hae-won Technical director: Lee Woo-hyung Scout: Jung Jun-yeon
Source: Official website
Honours K League 2 Winners (1): 2024
Season-by-season records Year League Korean Cup Top scorer(league only) Division Playoffs Player Goals2013Challenge35129145051455/8—Round of 32Park Sung-jin72014Challenge36156154952515/10—Round of 32Kim Jae-woongPark Sung-jin72015Challenge401315125352546/11—Round of 32An Sung-binKim Hyo-gi82016Challenge401113164053469/11—Round of 32Kim Min-kyun112017Challenge36109174058397/10—Round of 32Jeong Jae-hee82018K League 236128164450446/10—Round of 32Alex152019K League 2361510116350553/10Round of 16Cho Gue-sung142020K League 22767142738259/10—Third roundMaxwell Acosty72021K League 236171185137622/10Round of 16Jonathan Moya132022K League 240191295241693/11Third roundJonathan Moya92023K League 236159125851546/13—Second roundAndrigoPark Jae-yongYago62024K League 23618995136631/13—Third roundMatheus Oliveira72025K League 138147174947498/12—Round of 16Bruno Mota14
References
External links